SOLUTION / PUBLIC SOURCE RECORD
Hydrovolt electric-vehicle battery recycling
- Published January 12, 2024; updated September 30, 2026; estimated reading time 3 minutes. Status: available. Categories: Battery / Second life and recycling; Energy; Circular economy; Transportation.
- Hydrovolt recycles end-of-life EV batteries at its industrial plant in Fredrikstad. The process recovers copper, plastics, aluminum and black mass containing nickel, manganese, cobalt, graphite and lithium. Recovered materials are sold mainly to European customers for new batteries and other products.
- The article states annual processing capacity of 12,000 metric tons, equivalent to about 25,000 cars. It says many material fractions can be recovered at rates up to 100%, and that outputs maintain quality comparable to fresh materials. Batteries are discharged, dismantled, crushed and sorted in an automated facility.
- Hydrovolt was building another production line at the discharge/dismantling site. The planned semi-autonomous process could improve efficiency and use discharged-battery energy for the plant or local-grid stabilization. The page describes battery recycling as a way to reduce reliance on mining and lower battery life-cycle emissions.
- Market section discusses the EU Batteries Regulation, requiring lower carbon footprints, fewer harmful substances and less reliance on non-EU raw materials, as well as collection, reuse and recycling in Europe. Hydrovolt was founded in 2020, wholly owned by Hydro, headquartered in Oslo, and described as operating one of Europe’s largest EV-battery recycling plants in Fredrikstad. It planned expansion in France and Germany at the time. SDGs shown: 9, 11 and 12.
- Contact: Amanda Gran, Manager, Communication and Public Affairs, amanda.gran@hydrovolt.com; phone reveal control collapsed. Company: HYDROVOLT AS, Ruseløkkveien 34, Oslo, Norway; hydrovolt.com.