Japanese automobile firm Honda Motor has partnered with U.S.-based battery recycling and engineered materials company Ascend Elements to procure recycled lithium-ion battery materials for its electric vehicles in North America.
Honda says it is committed to achieving a circular/resource-recycling society, as outlined it its "Triple Action to ZERO" concept, which focuses on carbon neutrality, clean energy and resource circulation.
The company adds that it aims to achieve "zero environmental impact" by 2050, not only with its products, but throughout the entire product lifecycle, including all corporate activities.
Through this partnership, Honda seeks to secure a consistent supply of nickel, cobalt and lithium for use in its battery supply chain for electrified vehicles it produces in North America.
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Based in Westborough, Massachusetts, Ascend has recycled used lithium-ion batteries for American Honda Motor since 2021. The new agreement represents a step toward creating a closed-loop supply chain for recycled battery materials, leveraging the efficiencies and environmental benefits of Ascend’s patented Hydro-to-Cathode direct precursor synthesis process.
Ascend’s commercial products include recycled lithium, nickel, and cobalt, as well as sustainable cathode precursor and cathode active materials, all made from used lithium-ion batteries and gigafactory manufacturing scrap.
