UK Startup Altilium Secures £18.5m for EV Battery Refinery
Altilium, a UK clean technology company, has secured £18.5 million in grant funding from the government’s DRIVE35 Scale-Up Fund to build ACT3, the country’s first commercial refinery dedicated to recovering critical minerals from end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Located in Plymouth, Devon, the facility will process 24,000 EV batteries annually using Altilium’s proprietary EcoCathode™ process, producing battery-grade materials with up to 74% lower carbon emissions than mined alternatives, and supporting 70 new jobs.
Fund Details & Impact
This funding is through the DRIVE35 Scale-Up Fund, a program delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK and Innovate UK. DRIVE35 is part of the UK government’s £2.5 billion commitment to accelerate domestic EV supply chain and battery manufacturing capacity.
The announcement comes at a crucial time when private investment in European climate technology dipped to a five-year low in early 2025. Government-backed industrial grants have become increasingly vital for companies like Altilium, building the physical infrastructure necessary for the energy transition.
Altilium, which had previously secured over £17 million in private investment from partners including Marubeni Corporation and Mizuho Bank, described this as a "pivotal moment."
Dr Christian Marston, COO and co-founder of Altilium, stated:
“This funding marks a pivotal moment for Altilium and for the UK’s battery ecosystem. By scaling our recycling technology and building the UK’s first commercial facility of its kind, we are closing the loop on battery materials and enhancing the growth, productivity, and competitiveness of the UK automotive supply chain.”
The grant is expected to attract further private investment from new and existing shareholders.
ACT3 Plant Specifications
ACT3 will be built in Plymouth, Devon, upon an already completed building. Equipment installation is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, with commissioning targeted for the end of 2027.
Once operational, ACT3 will:
- Process 24,000 EV batteries per year.
- Employ Altilium’s EcoCathode™ hydrometallurgical process to recover over 95% of cathode metals and 99% of graphite from battery scrap.
- Produce critical intermediate materials used in battery cell manufacturing: nickel mixed hydroxide precipitate, lithium sulfate, and graphite.
- Reduce carbon emissions of these recycled materials by up to 74% compared to mined alternatives.