Image: lITHION
Hyundai has entered into a partnership with Lithion, a Canadian battery recycling firm. This agreement follows a validation project that began over three years ago.
Under this new arrangement, Lithion will serve as a partner for more than 250 Hyundai and Genesis dealerships across Canada. When a vehicle's battery approaches the end of its lifecycle, the dealers can reach out to Lithion, which will then transport the battery to its recycling facility in Saint-Bruno for processing. This is not the first collaboration between the two companies, as they had previously signed an initial agreement in 2021 to validate Lithion's extraction technology.
Yves Noël, Lithion’s vice president and chief business development officer, stated, “For many years, Lithion has been privileged to partner globally and locally with Hyundai, a visionary company committed to finding sustainable solutions for its lithium-ion batteries. This partnership paves the way forward both globally and in Canada, reinforcing Lithion's crucial role in the battery manufacturing value chain.”
Lithion, which attracted investment from General Motors two years ago, aims to recover 98% of the minerals in electric vehicle batteries and 95% of their components. In June, the company opened a recycling plant in Saint-Bruno, which will process over 15,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries annually, including those from electric and hybrid vehicles as well as production defects.
Ken Maisonville, executive director of customer experience and aftersales at Hyundai Auto Canada, explained, “As a leader in the shift towards electrification, it is crucial for us to ensure that the electric vehicles we offer have the lowest possible carbon footprint. This collaboration with Lithion allows us to optimize battery recycling while partnering with a Canadian company.”
Since launching the Saint-Bruno facility in the summer, Lithion has seen significant growth in its commercial activities and has established several multi-year contracts with partners.
Original News Website:
electrive.com, lithiontechnologies.com