Stellantis and Orano's Collaboration for Recycling EV Batteries and Gigafactory Scrap

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【Summary】Stellantis and Orano are forming a joint venture to recycle EV batteries and scrap from gigafactories. This will secure access to key materials like cobalt, nickel, and lithium for Stellantis, strengthening its position in the EV battery value chain. The joint venture will produce "black mass" materials that can be refined and reused in batteries, promoting a circular economy.

FutureCar Staff Oct 24, 2023 9:25 AM PT

Stellantis and Orano's Collaboration for Recycling EV Batteries and Gigafactory Scrap

Stellantis N.V., formerly known as Fiat Chrysler, announced on Tuesday that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Orano to establish a joint venture. This partnership aims to recycle end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries and scrap from gigafactories in Enlarged Europe and North America. By doing so, Stellantis hopes to strengthen its position in the EV battery value chain and ensure a steady supply of cobalt, nickel, and lithium, which are vital for electrification and energy transition.

Orano, a French company with 17,000 employees, is involved in various activities such as uranium mining, conversion-enrichment, spent fuel recycling, nuclear logistics, dismantling, and nuclear cycle engineering. The joint venture will focus on producing materials known as "black mass" or "active mass." These materials can then be refined at Orano's planned hydrometallurgical plant in Dunkirk, allowing them to be reused in batteries. This process contributes to the concept of a circular economy, where resources are continuously recycled and reused.