TECHNOLOGY

Innovative, safe, scalable, and sustainable process to recover critical materials from all types of lithium-ion batteries.

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Here’s how it works

Our two-step process can recover critical battery materials from lithium-ion batteries of all chemistries and form factors.

SAFE, SUBMERGED SHREDDING OF BATTERIES AND MANUFACTURING SCRAP

Step 1: Spokes

All types of lithium-ion batteries are shredded in a safe and efficient manner. ‘Generation 3’ Spoke utilizes patented technology to directly process full EV battery packs without discharging or dismantling. Our Spokes are designed to have:

  • Minimal solid and liquid waste
  • Zero combustion
  • Zero wastewater discharge
  • Relatively low air emissions

HYDROMETALLURGICAL PROCESSING TO PRODUCE CRITICAL BATTERY MATERIALS

Step 2: Hubs

Black mass is processed to produce high-quality end products for reuse in lithium-ion battery production or other applications in the broader economy.

  • The Rochester Hub is expected to be the first facility of its kind and first source of recycled battery-grade lithium carbonate production in North America
  • The Portovesme Hub is expected to be one of the largest sources of recycled battery grade products in Europe

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

Valuable differentiators of our innovative and sustainable Spoke & Hub Technologies™

By providing a sustainable and economic lithium-ion battery recycling solution, we create a secondary local supply to help meet the demand for critical battery materials and to ensure a more sustainable future for our planet.

Spoke & Hub Technologies
Full pack, full charged shredding capabilities

Generation 3 Spokes can process full pack EV batteries without the need to dismantle or discharge.

Efficient process

Our technology enables up to a 95% recovery rate to return critical materials back to the supply chain.

Battery form agnostic

We are able to safely receive and recycle all types of lithium-ion batteries regardless of form factor and state of charge, as well as all types of battery manufacturing scrap. We can also process damaged, defective or recalled batteries.

High-quality end products

Li-Cycle’s Hubs are expected to produce high-quality, critical battery materials, including battery-grade lithium carbonate.