From Scrap to Strategy: EV Batteries and the New Power Game - Xist4

July 10, 2025

What is supplier diversity, and why should you care?

Introduction

Here’s a scene for you: a lab in Devon. A heap of pulverised black powder. Lab coats extracting value like gold miners on a caffeine bender. This isn’t science fiction. It’s the new power game.

Altilium, a British cleantech startup, is proving that your dead EV battery isn’t trash—it’s treasure. And if you’re running a tech company in data, cyber or green energy, it might just be your next strategic edge.

Black Mass: Where the Strategy Begins

When EV batteries die, they don’t get a Viking funeral. They get shredded into a dusty powder called black mass—containing lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite. This gritty cocktail is where the next wave of battery innovation begins.

These critical materials are essential—and increasingly political. Recycling them locally isn’t just about sustainability. It’s about sovereignty.

Why the Race Is On

  • 40 million EVs were on the road globally by end of 2023—a 35% YoY increase.
  • Over 50% of the world’s nickel comes from Indonesia; two-thirds of cobalt from the DRC—regions with serious human rights and environmental concerns.
  • China dominates battery processing, leaving the West scrambling for resilience.

These insights are drawn from a brilliant BBC Future article by Michael Marshall, published 5 April 2025.

Altilium’s Play: Recycling as Infrastructure

Their EcoCathode™ process extracts over 95% of battery-grade materials with much lower carbon emissions and cost than mining.

EcoAnode™ pulls out graphite with 99% efficiency—matching the stuff dug out of the ground. It’s already powering high-performance cells tested at UKBIC, outperforming expectations.

Teesside: Britain’s New Battery Back-End

Altilium’s ACT4 facility in Teesside is set to process 150,000 EV batteries per year—enough to produce 30,000 tonnes of cathode material, roughly 20% of the UK’s 2030 EV battery demand.

Funded by serious international players, this isn’t a science project—it’s a strategic move.

What This Means for BI, Data & Cyber Leaders

  • Start with your dependencies. What core inputs can you control—or not?
  • Data is your passport. Lifecycle tracking will be essential to access circular supply chains.
  • Don’t wait for regulation. If you’re waiting until 2031 to get compliant, you’re already behind.
  • Reframe your role. You’re not just running a data or cyber function. You’re part of a broader supply chain strategy.

Conclusion

From black mass to strategic muscle—Altilium is showing the UK what’s possible.

If you want to future-proof your tech stack, don’t just think about software and AI. Think batteries. Think pipelines. Think about who controls the materials your future depends on.



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