Lithium-ion batteries from Hyundai electric vehicles in Canada will be recycled in Montreal by Lithion Technologies, the two companies announced. This agreement provides a sustainable solution for managing end-of-life components collected by Hyundai’s more than 250 dealerships across the country. This recycling agreement builds on a smaller-scale agreement reached in 2021, which allowed Hyundai to validate the Quebec company’s technology to isolate lithium, nickel, cobalt and other components, and the prepare to be reused in new batteries.
A commitment to responsible electrification
Ken Maisonville, executive director of customer experience and after-sales services at Hyundai Auto Canada, said the multi-year agreement would ensure “optimal recycling” of Hyundai batteries, while maintaining activity within Canada.
“As a leader in the transition to electrification, it is important for us to ensure that the electric vehicles we bring to market have the lowest possible carbon footprint,” he said in a statement. press release.
Lithion has perfected its two-stage battery recycling technology over the past five years and opened a commercial-scale factory in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, near Montreal, in June. Using wet grinding technology, this plant is capable of processing approximately 20,000 tonnes of battery materials per year, the equivalent of approximately 45,000 electric vehicle batteries.
Upcoming expansion for sustainable battery management
The company is also working to build a complete hydrometallurgical plant, which will allow it to separate different components from the ground material, such as lithium and other essential elements. Lithion is targeting 2028 for the start of operations of this second installation.
The partnership with Hyundai Canada covers the Hyundai and Genesis brands. Lithion will be responsible for transporting end-of-life batteries collected by dealers or distributors to Montreal for their dismantling.
A promising partnership for the future
“This partnership charts a path forward, both globally and here in Canada, by reaffirming Lithion’s critical, central and essential role in the battery manufacturing value chain,” said Yves Noël, Chief Development Officer commercial at Lithion, in a press release.
With information from Automotive News Canada
The text Lithion Technologies of Montreal recycles Hyundai Canada’s batteries comes from L’annuel de l’automobile – Automotive news