Auckland’s Mint Innovation will help lead a UK-based electric vehicle battery recycling trial backed by £8.1 million in government funding. The pilot, based in the West Midlands, is designed to recover key minerals for reuse in new Jaguar Land Rover batteries.
The initiative falls under the UK’s £2.5 billion Drive35 programme aimed at accelerating EV production. Mint’s role includes supplying the extraction technology and supporting the development of a circular battery supply chain.
EV Battery Recycling Consortium Targets Critical Metal Recovery
A £2.5 billion investment under the UK’s Drive35 programme is supporting a battery recycling trial involving Mint Innovation, LiBatt Recycling, and Warwick University.
The project will focus on processing used electric vehicle batteries to extract key minerals. With EV use expanding globally, the volume of battery waste is rising. These batteries decline in efficiency and are considered toxic when dumped.
Reprocessing EV Batteries to Recover Lithium, Nickel, and Cobalt
The pilot centres on technology to recover lithium, nickel, and cobalt from used electric vehicle batteries. The recovered materials will be reprocessed into new battery cells for Jaguar Land Rover. EV batteries degrade, reducing their performance and raising disposal concerns over time.
“The intention is that we build these smaller-scale plants that are able to be deployed everywhere where these waste streams exist, and create a circularity solution for every country that’s demanding these critical metals,” said Mint Innovation CEO Will Barker.
Brand-Agnostic Extraction Technology for Scalable Deployment
While Mint keeps its extraction process under wraps, it emphasises that the method is brand-agnostic and designed for wide deployment.
The company’s technology can integrate into any supply chain, regardless of the battery manufacturer. Though the current pilot is with Jaguar Land Rover, Barker notes:
“We can drop into anyone’s supply chain… to get impact, we’ve got to solve a global problem.” The recycling system is tailored to align with new regulations in the UK and EU, where governments are mandating that EV batteries include minimum levels of recycled materials
Pandemic Sparked Shift Toward Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling
Mint Innovation’s experience in e-waste recovery laid the foundation for its current EV battery project. The company’s first facility in Sydney is now being upgraded beyond gold and copper recovery to include tin and silver.
A second plant is in the pipeline for Texas. The move into lithium-ion battery recycling began when COVID-19 lab closures prompted a shift in focus.
“All of my scientists were locked out of the lab for an extended period. So to keep the creative juices flowing, I asked them to focus on alternative waste streams — and one of those was lithium-ion batteries,” Barker said.
New Zealand Market Trails Behind International Expansion
Mint Innovation has opted not to build a recycling facility in New Zealand, despite a $1.2 million grant from Callaghan Innovation. The company cited stronger incentives and regulations in overseas markets, such as Australia’s mandated e-waste rules. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds addressed the slow domestic pace:
“I intend to progress schemes in a measured way to ensure they are well-considered and cost-of-living impacts are limited.” Mint’s Auckland research base remains active, supporting 20 high-skill roles and contributing to exports.
Strong Market Outlook Fuels Mint Innovation’s Funding Strategy
Mint Innovation expects to raise over US$50 million (NZ$83 million) in its Series D round planned for 2026. The company secured $60 million in Series C funding in 2023.
CEO Will Barker pointed to sector-wide growth, referencing a McKinsey report that forecasts lithium-ion battery demand to rise 27% each year, hitting 4700 GWh by 2030 — or about 117 million EV batteries — and creating a US$40 billion recycling industry by 2040.