Cirba Solutions powers new GM EV trucks with 100% recycled critical minerals
End-of-life GM EV batteries were sent to Cirba Solutions’ Ohio facility, where nickel, cobalt, and manganese were recovered
Reintroducing critical minerals recovered from end-of-life batteries and manufacturing scrap into the domestic supply chain is vital to building a stronger circular battery economy. One way the electric vehicle (EV) industry is putting this approach into practice is by creating closed-loop supply chains, with battery recycling serving as the catalyst.
Through a strategic collaboration between General Motors (GM), Cirba Solutions, and other partners, they have successfully completed a closed-loop EV battery recycling pilot. Using materials recovered from end-of-life GM EV battery packs to produce new battery cells, these are the first GM EV batteries made with cathode active material (CAM) containing 100 percent recycled nickel, cobalt and manganese.
Discover how Cirba Solutions is closing the loop on EV battery packs
GM partnered with Cirba Solutions to disassemble and process end-of-life EV battery packs as part of this program. The EV battery materials were transported to Cirba Solutions' lithium-ion recycling and recovery facility in Ohio, where they were processed into Black Mass, a concentrated intermediate material rich in critical minerals that is produced when lithium-ion batteries are shredded and processed.
Recovering the critical minerals through recycling is the first step. Critical minerals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese help determine a battery's performance, and before any recycled materials from end-of-life batteries can go into manufacturing new EV cells, those materials must meet the same standards as virgin minerals.
"This pilot shows that the value of an EV battery can extend well beyond its first life — and that strong partnerships across the battery ecosystem are essential to building a more circular, resilient future for battery technology," said Melissa Flaherty, director of Sustainable EV Battery Ecosystem at GM.
Increasing availability in domestic supply chains
Nearly 14 million EV batteries are projected to reach end-of-life globally by 2040, and the global demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to reach approximately 4.2 to 6.8 terawatt-hours annually over the next decade.
The program between GM and Cirba Solutions demonstrates that recycled material can be recovered and used in new EV batteries. Increasing domestic processing capabilities opens opportunities for advancing closed-loop models for all battery formats, including EVs, energy storage systems, data centers, consumer devices, and more.
"Battery recycling is an important, intersecting component across the battery supply chain, and this program effectively demonstrates the value that recycling end-of-life batteries brings to creating a closed-loop supply of critical minerals," said David Klanecky, president and CEO of Cirba Solutions. "The global battery supply chain is an interconnected network of innovative and collaborative organizations — and engaging in partnerships like this with GM shows us how this work can truly strengthen our supply chains, manufacturing, global competitiveness, and national security."
Through partnerships like this, the recovery and reuse of critical minerals can help support lower-cost batteries over time, leave positive impacts on the environment, reduce reliance on newly mined materials, advance manufacturing, and ultimately strengthen supply chain resilience.
