Closing the Loop: Why Lithium Battery Reusing and Recycling Is the Future—and LOHUM Is Leading the Way

The transition to a cleaner, electrified world is no longer on the horizon—it is actively unfolding. From electric scooters and motorcycles to buses, trucks, and even aircraft, the global push for decarbonized mobility is gaining momentum. At the core of this transformation lies the lithium-ion battery, the powerhouse driving electric vehicles (EVs), portable electronics, and grid-scale renewable storage solutions.

However, the rapid adoption of lithium-ion batteries comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most pressing: What happens to these batteries when they reach the end of their first life? As battery deployment accelerates, the volume of spent batteries is projected to skyrocket. By 2030, analysts predict that more than 2 million metric tonnes of batteries could be retired globally each year. And herein lies both the challenge and the opportunity—building a circular economy for lithium batteries through advanced lithium battery reusing and recycling practices.

The Urgent Need for Battery Circularity

Today, global mining operations are already struggling to meet the demand for lithium, cobalt, and nickel—critical minerals used in battery manufacturing. Establishing new mines is not only capital-intensive and time-consuming but also environmentally contentious, often leading to water scarcity and toxic runoff that disrupts ecosystems and communities.

That’s why battery reuse and recycling are not just an environmental necessity—they are an economic imperative. Recovered materials from used batteries can lower manufacturing costs, decrease reliance on volatile foreign supply chains, and significantly reduce the life-cycle impact of battery production.

At LOHUM, we believe that “Every Battery Deserves a Second Life.” Our vertically integrated ecosystem is designed to create sustainable value from battery materials, whether through second-life energy storage systems, refining of precursor materials, or proprietary recycling technologies.

Lithium Battery Reusing: Extending Value Beyond the Road

An EV battery is typically deemed to have reached its end of life when its capacity falls below 80% of its original rating. However, this does not render the battery useless. On the contrary, batteries retired from EVs can still offer 6 to 10 more years of service in stationary energy storage—an opportunity LOHUM is actively harnessing.

Through modular repurposing and diagnostic-driven refurbishing, functioning modules from retired battery packs are integrated into second-life systems. These are then deployed in applications like solar energy storage, off-grid solutions, and peak-shaving energy grids, allowing organizations to reduce their carbon footprint while optimizing energy usage.

Not only does this extend the lifecycle of lithium-ion batteries, but it also reduces the demand for new battery production, which in turn lowers energy consumption and emissions associated with raw material extraction and manufacturing.

Scaling the Circular Supply Chain with Innovation

One of the key bottlenecks in battery recycling today is technological efficiency. Traditional pyrometallurgical methods, which involve high-temperature smelting, recover valuable metals like cobalt and nickel but often lose lithium and aluminum to slag waste. These processes are also energy-intensive, costly, and environmentally taxing.

In contrast, LOHUM leverages hydrometallurgical and direct recycling processes that offer higher recovery rates with lower environmental impact. A standout innovation in this space is direct cathode recycling, a technique that retains the integrity of the cathode compound and refunctionalizes it through relithiation. Recent studies have shown that this method can even enhance battery performance, with recycled cathodes enabling faster charging and longer life compared to those made from virgin materials.

As a result, LOHUM is able to extract high-purity precursor li-ion battery material from used batteries, transforming waste into a resource. These recovered materials are then reintegrated into our manufacturing pipeline, creating a closed-loop supply chain that is both sustainable and scalable.

Economic and Environmental Impact

The economic case for battery recycling is compelling. Mineral costs make up nearly 50% of the total cost of a lithium-ion battery, and their prices have been notoriously volatile—spiking as much as 300% within a single year. Recycling mitigates this risk by creating a stable, domestic supply of critical materials, reducing dependence on imports and improving energy security.

More importantly, recycling reduces the social and environmental harm associated with mining, particularly for cobalt. Over 60% of the world’s cobalt supply comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where mining is often linked to human rights abuses and unsafe working conditions. By reducing demand for newly mined materials, LOHUM is helping reshape the global battery value chain with ethics and sustainability at its core.

Policy and Future Outlook

As demand for batteries continues to surge—forecasted to grow tenfold by 2035—governments and industries alike are recognizing the importance of circularity. For instance, California is working toward ensuring that 100% of EV batteries are recycled or reused. Policies around extended producer responsibility, standardized labelling, and domestic recycling infrastructure are essential steps toward this vision.

At LOHUM, we are not just aligned with these goals—we are helping to define them. Through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge research, and our state-of-the-art recycling facilities, we are actively contributing to a future where battery materials are endlessly renewable and carbon footprints are minimal.

Closing Thoughts

As the electrification movement scales globally, so too must our commitment to sustainability. Lithium battery reusing and recycling is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it is the cornerstone of a resilient, responsible energy ecosystem.

At LOHUM, we are proud to be building that ecosystem today. From precursor li-ion battery material refinement to second-life applications and environmentally sound recycling processes, our vision is clear: Powering the future without compromising the planet.

Let’s close the loop. Let’s electrify responsibly.

Visit us at: 3 wheeler EV Battery

Originally published on: Medium