EMR Collaborates on Graphite Recovery from EV Batteries

U.K. Recycler Partners with University of Birmingham on New EV Battery Recycling Technology
U.K.-based recycling firm EMR is advancing its efforts to sustainably recover graphite from electric vehicle (EV) batteries in collaboration with the University of Birmingham. The project, part of the Faraday Institution’s Industry Sprint program, seeks to find more efficient ways to recover graphite, which is critical to the EV industry.

Key Focus on Graphite Recovery
Graphite Critical for EV Batteries and Beyond
While lithium-ion battery recycling has traditionally focused on recovering lithium, cobalt, and nickel, EMR highlights that graphite is also a crucial material—often present in far larger quantities than lithium in EV batteries. Graphite is not only essential for new EV batteries, but also valuable in steelmaking, brake linings, and other industrial applications, making its recovery a critical part of the circular economy.

Advancing EV Battery Recycling Technologies
EMR Drives Research and Industry Collaboration
EMR has been a leader in advancing EV battery recycling technology. The company played a key role in the Recovas project, which brought together major players in recycling, automotive manufacturing, and energy. Earlier this year, EMR opened its Battery Recycling Centre in Coventry to continue these efforts. The new research with the University of Birmingham will focus on regenerating high-capacity graphite for advanced applications, pushing the boundaries of graphite’s potential in the EV industry.

New Facilities to Handle EV Battery Recycling
Birmingham and Hamburg Centres Open for Large-Scale EV Battery Processing
EMR’s new Battery Recycling Centre in Birmingham, which opened in September 2024, will process over 2,000 metric tons of EV batteries annually. The plant assesses battery viability for reuse in vehicles or energy storage, as well as recycling, with onsite shredding capabilities. EMR’s first such facility in Hamburg, Germany, was opened in late 2023 in collaboration with Northvolt, Europe’s leading battery manufacturer.

The Growing Role of Graphite in the EV Industry
Focus on Sustainability and Circular Economy for EV Battery Materials
Roger Morton, Managing Director for Technology and Innovation at EMR, emphasized the increasing priority of developing environmentally friendly and cost-effective methods for graphite recovery. As demand for graphite in EV batteries grows, the push for scalable and sustainable recovery technologies becomes even more important.

The new research and innovation are seen as key steps in advancing the industry’s shift towards circularity and sustainable resource management.