The Department of Energy (DOE) has made $37 million available for projects that support research, development and demonstration efforts in recycling electric vehicle batteries and exploring their second-life applications. The grants are available through the DOE’s Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second-Life Applications program.
This program is set to award an estimated 11 projects that focus on electric vehicle sustainability, specifically on extending the lifecycle of batteries and innovating recycling methodologies. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will remain accessible until April 19, 2024. This is a unique opportunity for institutions of higher education, national laboratories, and both nonprofit and for-profit entities to contribute to this critical environmental cause.
Previous projects to receive grants through the initiative include:
- $10 million to the American Battery Technology Co. in Reno, Nevada, for advanced separation and processing technologies to enhance lithium-ion battery recycling efficiency and environmental impact.
- $7.4 million to Retrieve Solutions in Indianapolis for a novel, integrated end-to-end process of refurbishing end-of-life EV batteries.
- $8.1 million to Michigan Technological University in Houghton for supplying refined battery materials in the U.S. and linking lithium-ion battery recycling with mine waste reclamation.
- $10 million to the Regents of the University of California San Diego to develop and scale purification and regeneration processes for direct recycling and upcycling of cathodes.