Axion joins forces to offer service for end-of-life batteries

Axion has announced its new partnership with Aspire Engineering Ltd and Aceleron, to focus on reusing and recycling the growing volume of batteries used in electric vehicles and light automotive applications.

The resource recovery expert has teamed up with Aspire Engineering Ltd, a specialist in sustainable circular economy Remanufacturing, Reuse, Recycle engineering and manufacturing solutions provider, and Aceleron, a lithium-ion battery reuse specialist.

Together, the companies will tackle the growing market of electric vehicle battery systems at the end of initial life, and address the large number of cells from end-of-life portable electronic equipment.

With over 100,000 end-of-life batteries in the UK needing to be recycled or reused, the three companies together will offer a full service for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries that will address the previously complex, expensive and energy-intensive issues associated with recycling these types of materials. The service will see batteries be processed for remanufacturing, reuse and recycling by Aspire; tested and repurposed for second-life applications by Aceleron; and recycled by Axion. 

A joint facility based at Axion’s recycling sites in Manchester will be receiving batteries collected from customers. Here they will be assessed for their reuse potential using Aceleron’s innovative testing methods, and Aspire’s engineering and process operating model for disassembly and rebuild. Batteries that have usable life remaining will be remanufactured or reused in a variety of applications by Aspire or Aceleron, with the remainder being recycled through Axion.

Aspire’s Managing Director, Ian Briggs said: “This venture brings together a strategic alignment of three companies which have the same goal and same environmental and sustainable ethos. This connection is bound by morals for a cleaner environment and a sustainable future.

“The drastic change to technology needed for an emission-free clean air solution needs partnerships like this to aid with solving the full circular economy business structure, enabling a complete sustainable solution. This full service offer we three companies provide will support major OEMs with their end-of-life vehicle directive requirements.”

Axion’s Head of Engineering & Research, Sam Haig comments: “Combining the skills of all three companies opens up a more cost-effective end-of-life route by recovering batteries that still have a useful life and extracts more value that can be passed onto clients.”

Axion is now a partner in the CALIBRE project, a collaboration between Johnson Matthey, Autocraft Drivetrain Solutions, Benchmark Mineral Intellegence, Nissan, and WMG at the University of Warwick to demonstrate a UK-based supply chain for end-of-life batteries. Meanwhile Aspire and Aceleron are members of the VALUABLE project, which looks at a battery remanufacturing business solution, technical processing methods and capital investment cost requirements for setting up a battery system remanufacturing facility.

Visit website

Twitter: @axion_group

LinkedIn: Axion Group

Contact Axion: [email protected]

Visit Supplier's page