Automakers are increasingly forming partnerships in the recycling space to improve the sustainability credentials of their batteries and prepare for upcoming legislation. Last week, Volvo Cars signed an agreement to provide recycled materials to CATL to use in its batteries for the automaker. Volvo will collect retired batteries from its electric vehicles (EVs) and use […]
> Chinese-owned Volvo Cars is taking over its joint venture with Northvolt as the battery manufacturer struggles with scaling production and challenging market conditions. The joint venture, NOVO Energy, was expected to begin production in 2026 from a facility in Gothenburg, Sweden. The project has planned investments of $2.8 billion and a 2030 pipeline capacity of […]
> Black mass markets in Q3 2025 were largely shaped by China’s lifting of import restrictions on 1 August, which re‑routed trade flows. Outside of China, this has created a two-tier market divided by compliance with Chinese custom’s quality controls. Compliant material commanded high premiums (79%–84%), while producers of non‑compliant batches struggled to clear material, trading […]
> The mining industry accounted for ~5% of global carbon emissions last year, with roughly half originating from mining vehicles. Electrifying mine sites offers an opportunity for miners to cut emissions while also reducing costs. With 30%–50% of a mine’s energy costs attributed to diesel, replacing internal combustion fleets can deliver significant savings. “Mining electrification is […]
> Chinese authorities have approved reserve reports for two key lithium mines in Jiangxi province, bringing months of uncertainty over the outlook for the lithium-rich region’s mining sector closer to a conclusion. CATL’s Jianxiawo mine – which was suspended on 10 August following the expiration of its mining permit – is reported to have received reserve […]
> Following the continued evolution of the lithium ion battery supply chain, and as part of its rolling methodology review process, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence announces the opening of the 2025 annual public consultation period, for comment on Benchmark’s market-leading price assessment methodologies for lithium, nickel, cobalt, natural graphite, synthetic graphite, anode, cathode, black mass and rare […]
> Since electric vehicles (EVs) began moving into mass adoption, questions have persisted about what happens to their batteries at the end of life (EoL). Recycling remains the obvious answer, but there is a growing interest exploring the intermediate step of giving used EV batteries a “second life” in stationary energy storage before they head to the […]
> CATL has announced its 40ktpa Jiangxi-based Jianxiawo mica mine, idled since late August, could receive the permits required to restart sooner than the market had anticipated. The shift in signalling is notable. Just last week, market consensus had hardened around the likelihood of a prolonged suspension amidst concerns over provincial-level regulatory clampdowns. This latest announcement […]
> The battery recycling industries in both Europe and North America are skewed towards black mass production through battery waste pretreatment, leading critical minerals to leak into Asia where there is an abundance of black mass refining capacity, primarily in the form of hydrometallurgy. Although both recycling industries are at similar levels of maturity, there are […]