The RECOVAS project is officially complete, marking a historic milestone for the UK’s recycling and automotive industries.
Led by EMR and funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre, RECOVAS created the UK’s first fully circular supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, covering everything from collection and reuse to critical metals recycling and reintegration back into the manufacturing process, ensuring materials are ready for new battery or product production.
RECOVAS (Reuse and Recycling of EV Batteries) is a four-year (2021-2025) collaborative project that brings together major players, including EMR, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Bentley, Autocraft Solutions, Connected Energy, the University of Warwick, and UKBIC.
The goal? To prove that EV batteries can be safely, efficiently, and economically recycled and reused within the UK, avoiding the need to ship batteries abroad, a process that was previously expensive and made the UK dependant on external suppliers for processing and recycling.
Previously, all end-of-life EV batteries had to be shipped outside of the UK for processing, adding significant transport and export costs.
The RECOVAS blueprint keeps valuable battery materials within the UK, reducing reliance on imported raw materials and strengthening supply chain resilience.
It also supports the UK’s decarbonisation goals by lowering the environmental footprint of EV battery production and disposal.
According to the UK government, battery recycling can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 50% compared to mining new materials.
The need for domestic battery recycling is only set to grow. With the UK banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, more drivers will be switching to electric vehicles in the coming decade. This shift will dramatically increase the volume of EV batteries reaching end-of-life, making projects like RECOVAS crucial to ensure these batteries are processed safely, sustainably, and economically within the UK.
Read our 2035 Petrol and Diesel Ban Guide to learn more about how the automotive industry is preparing for this major change.
While RECOVAS has demonstrated the technology and processes needed for a circular battery economy, questions remain around short-term supply volumes:
EV batteries typically last 8 to 15 years, meaning current end-of-life volumes remain low. Suppose domestic battery returns fail to meet processing capacity in the next few years. In that case, facilities may need to supplement their supply with imported waste batteries or diversify into industrial storage system recycling to remain economically viable.
However, with EV ownership increasing year on year, this supply bottleneck is likely to be temporary. Investments today future-proof the UK, ensuring it is well-equipped with the necessary infrastructure and expertise when EV battery volumes surge.
The RECOVAS project is a major step towards a fully circular, sustainable automotive industry. By keeping battery materials in the UK, it creates local jobs, reduces carbon emissions, and supports national decarbonisation targets.
As electric vehicles continue to dominate new vehicle sales, projects like RECOVAS will be vital to managing end-of-life batteries efficiently and profitably, while protecting the environment.
Answering your common questions about RECOVAS and EV battery recycling in the UK, from what it means to future opportunities.
Choose a service & we’ll search our network to find you the best scrapyard for your enquiry!
We have hundreds of scrap car buyers waiting to buy your scrap car.
