Closing the Loop: How EV Battery Recycling Could Power a Circular Economy

Closing the Loop: How EV Battery Recycling Could Power a Circular Economy

From Balancing The Future by METTLER TOLEDO

August 4, 2025 · 31 min · Season 2 · Episode 6

About this episode

The episode discusses the future of EV battery recycling and its impact on local economies with expert insights from Jake Entwistle.

What happens to electric vehicle batteries at the end of their life? The answer could help reshape not just battery recycling, but entire local economies. In this episode of Balancing the Future , Micah and Chai speak with Jake Entwistle, Lead Engineer at Altilium Clean Technology, about the UK pilot plant that's pushing the boundaries of EV battery recycling. Together, they explore how high-efficiency recycling can help create circular economies, reduce reliance on mining, and meet growing regulatory demands. They dig into the technical challenges of processing black mass: the powdered remains of shredded batteries, and explain why materials like nickel, cobalt, lithium, and graphite are so valuable to recover. From advanced hydrometallurgical methods to the role of EU regulations and the rise of battery passports, the conversation touches on every aspect of this emerging industry. LINKS Jake Entwistle on LinkedIn Altilium Clean Technology Website METTLER TOLEDO Laboratory Solutions Website METTLER TOLEDO Laboratory Solutions on LinkedIn Balancing The Future Podcast Website Micah Schweizer on LinkedIn Chai Nussbaumer on LinkedIn SOURCES Energizing Change: How Batteries Drive the…

People in this episode

Hosts: Micah Schweizer, Chai Nussbaumer

Guest: Jake Entwistle

Topics covered

  • EV battery recycling
  • circular economy
  • sustainability
  • regulatory demands
  • hydrometallurgical methods
  • battery materials recovery

Keywords

  • electric vehicle batteries
  • recycling
  • circular economy
  • black mass
  • nickel
  • cobalt
  • lithium
  • graphite
  • EU regulations
  • battery passports

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Altilium Clean Technology, METTLER TOLEDO, International Energy Agency, ScienceDirect

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