The EU’s Battery Directive will also make it mandatory that at least 80% of lithium must be recovered from batteries by 2031.

“The technology works… So the core part of our technology is already nailed. Now we just have to industrialize it,” Fleischer said.

Smashing recycling bottlenecks
The startup is tackling bottlenecks in lithium battery recycling using a water-based carbonation recovery process that’s more environmentally friendly than conventional pyrometallurgy (smelting). Its method of reclaiming lithium also doesn’t entail the use of harsh acids, as can be the case with other battery recycling processes.