As the electric vehicle ecosystem expanded, solutions addressing the end-of-life phase of batteries became increasingly prominent. In this context, Altilium Clean Technology took a notable step aligned with the UK’s strategic objectives around sustainable supply chains.
The company secured £18.5 million in funding through the UK government’s DRIVE35 Scale-Up Fund. Founded in Plymouth in 2020, Altilium used this investment to advance the development of its ACT3 electric vehicle battery recycling facility. The plant was positioned as one of the first large-scale infrastructures of its kind in the country.
Once operational at full capacity, ACT3 was expected to process up to 24,000 batteries annually. Through this process, critical materials such as nickel mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), lithium sulphate, and graphite were recovered and reintroduced directly into battery manufacturing. This model reduced reliance on imported raw materials while strengthening domestic production capabilities. It also contributed to lowering the environmental footprint associated with battery production.
The project’s economic impact was also evident. Approximately 70 skilled jobs were created in the Plymouth area. The development of ACT3 built upon the technical and operational outputs of the ACT2 pilot facility, which was commissioned in late 2025. This progression indicated a controlled, data-driven scale-up approach.
Looking ahead, the company’s roadmap extended further. Plans for the ACT4 facility in Teesside outlined a significantly larger operation, with the capacity to process battery scrap from over 150,000 electric vehicles annually. The facility was projected to supply up to 20% of the UK’s battery material demand by 2030.
Taken together, these developments underscored a broader shift: battery recycling was no longer treated solely as an environmental necessity, but as a strategic component of industrial competitiveness and supply chain resilience. Altilium’s expansion highlighted the growing centrality of recycling within the electric vehicle value chain.