JLR’s VC arm invests in battery recycling and manufacturing tech

 Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital and mobility arm – InMotion Ventures – has invested in Battery Resourcers, a lithium-ion battery recycling and materials company.

The sustainable technology firm holds the exclusive licence for an innovative closed-loop process that integrates battery recycling, refining and materials engineering to convert scrap end-of-life batteries into new materials that can be used to make new batteries.

JLR says the investment in Battery Resourcers is part of the plan “to establish sustainable solutions for end-of-life batteries, minimising waste and creating a circular economy across the battery supply chain.”

The announcement comes as Jaguar Land Rover defines its future strategy: a sustainability-rich reimagination of modern luxury, unique customer experiences and positive societal impact – with the aim of achieving net zero carbon emissions across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039. The investment showcases the company’s vision to establish new benchmark standards in efficient scale and quality by accelerating investments in circular economy supply chains.

Sebastian Peck, Managing Director of InMotion Ventures, said: “I am excited about our investment in Battery Resourcers. The company’s proprietary end-to-end recycling process supports Jaguar Land Rover’s journey to become a net zero carbon business by 2039. Battery Resourcers is part of the plan for the business to meet its obligation for end-of-life batteries, minimising energy use and waste, achieving full circularity for its recycled battery materials, and securing future sustainable supplies of rare materials. We look forward to working with the Battery Resourcers team and supporting the international expansion of the business.”

Mike O’Kronley, Chief Executive of Battery Resourcers, said “Battery Resourcers is on the verge of revolutionizing the lithium ion battery supply chain. Being able to convert scrap and end-of-life battery materials into new active material that can be directly used in making new batteries drives increased profitability and stability for the lithium ion battery ecosystem. Our investment partners share our vision and passion to scale this revolutionary process to support the battery material supply chain.”

Battery Resourcers’ innovative technology will recycle and produce cathode active materials such as Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC), Nickel Cobalt Aluminium (NCA) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries. The business has also filed intellectual property around graphite recovery and purification, which will enable it to return both the cathode and anode active materials back to manufacturers of new batteries.

The investment from InMotion Ventures and other strategic partners will fund the development of a commercial-scale processing facility, with the capability to process 10,000 tonnes of batteries annually, along with the expansion and enhancement of the production and analysis facilities in Michigan, USA.