Powering a Sustainable Future: The Rise of Recycled Li-ion Battery Materials and the Role of LOHUM

As the world accelerates toward clean mobility and renewable energy, lithium-ion batteries have become the cornerstone of this transition. They power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles (EVs), school buses to solar storage systems. However, this surging demand is outpacing the global supply of raw materials, pushing us to rethink how we source and reuse battery components. Amidst this transition, LOHUM is driving innovation with a clear vision: to power the world sustainably by transforming the life cycle of energy storage.

The Growing Challenge of Battery Waste

It’s estimated that by 2030, more than 2 million metric tonnes of lithium-ion batteries will reach end-of-life each year, driven by increasing EV adoption. That’s equivalent to retiring over half a million vehicles annually. While EVs currently represent a small share of the global vehicle fleet, their growth trajectory is steep—with over 50% of EV sales in the U.S. alone occurring within the last two years.

The environmental risks of improper disposal and the economic costs of mining virgin resources underscore the need for scalable, effective battery recycling. Historically, most e-waste ended up in landfills, but lithium-ion batteries contain valuable metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel—materials critical for the next generation of clean energy storage.

The Promise of Second-Life Batteries

The usable life of a lithium-ion battery doesn't end with its removal from a vehicle. According to the US Advanced Battery Consortium, batteries are considered retired when their capacity falls below 80%, but they still hold significant energy. These retired packs can find a "second life" in stationary applications—from solar energy storage to peak demand management. With repurposing, a retired EV battery can continue performing for another 6 to 10 years, drastically improving resource utilization and reducing waste.

However, one of the key hurdles to second-life applications has been the rapid decline in battery prices and improvements in new battery performance. Nevertheless, innovative companies like LOHUM are tackling these barriers head-on by building circular energy ecosystems that reduce waste, create value, and ensure consistent material supply.

Closing the Loop: The Path of Sustainable Recycling

Battery recycling is more than just recovering elements—it's about creating a circular value chain. Traditional pyrometallurgical processes involve smelting at extremely high temperatures (~1500°C), recovering some high-value metals like cobalt and nickel. Unfortunately, lithium and aluminum are often lost as slag, and the process is energy-intensive, releasing toxic fluorine emissions.

Hydrometallurgy, by contrast, dissolves components in acid for selective extraction and has lower environmental impacts. However, it still requires significant processing to recreate cathode materials. That’s where direct recycling enters the conversation. In this process, the cathode compound is preserved and refunctionalized, maintaining its structure and performance while avoiding energy-intensive re-refinement.

A study published in Joule revealed that cathodes recovered through direct recycling not only matched the performance of those made from newly mined materials but also demonstrated better charging capabilities and extended lifespans, thanks to improved porosity and structural integrity.

This process represents a significant leap forward for recycled Li-ion battery materials, providing a blueprint for high-performance, low-impact battery manufacturing. By preserving cathode integrity and strategically relithiating the compound, researchers are now delivering batteries that last longer and charge faster—a breakthrough for energy storage innovation.

LOHUM: Leading the Charge in Circular Energy Economy

At LOHUM, we recognize that the future of energy depends not only on how we power devices, vehicles, and homes—but also on how we design, recover, and re-manufacture battery components. Our commitment to maximizing the lifecycle of every battery is at the heart of our work.

LOHUM is pioneering the production of lithium-ion battery precursors and battery-grade materials from used batteries—offering both economic value and environmental sustainability. With over 1 million lithium-ion battery units processed, we’ve scaled the production of high-quality second-life materials for diverse applications including electric mobility, consumer electronics, and energy storage systems.

Our integrated model encompasses collection, repurposing, refining, and remanufacturing, reducing dependence on volatile mining markets and minimizing ecological impact. By investing in domestic battery material supply chains, LOHUM is ensuring energy security, boosting local economies, and creating jobs in the green tech sector.

Market Momentum & Policy Support

The lithium-ion battery market is poised to grow 10-fold in the next decade, with demand for critical minerals projected to soar. However, the mining of these minerals—especially cobalt—is fraught with human rights issues, geopolitical instability, and environmental damage. More than 60% of cobalt is sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo, often under hazardous conditions.

This is where recycled Li-ion battery materials come into play. By reducing reliance on virgin resources, we can avoid supply chain disruptions, ensure ethical sourcing, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with mining and processing.

Governments are recognizing this need. California, for example, is crafting policies requiring 100% of EV batteries to be either recycled or reused. Measures like extended producer responsibility, standardized labeling, and deposit systems are laying the groundwork for a truly circular battery economy.

Building a Greener Future, Together

At LOHUM, we believe sustainability isn’t a feature—it’s a foundation. We are not just recycling batteries; we are reimagining the future of energy. By closing the loop on battery materials and innovating new ways to recover, reuse, and remanufacture, we are reshaping how the world thinks about power—economically, ethically, and ecologically.

As the market for lithium-ion battery precursors continues to grow, we remain committed to leading with purpose. Our technology-first, impact-driven approach ensures that every battery we touch contributes to a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable planet.

LOHUM: Powering Tomorrow. Sustainably.

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Originally published on: Medium