OnTo gets hybrid and EV battery recycling contract

The U.S. Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) has awarded a contract to OnTo Technology of Bend, Oregon to research and develop technology to recycle advanced batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles.

The research is to involve two kinds of advanced battery chemistries—nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion—and examine the technical feasibility of recycling these types of automotive batteries.

The results will be used to project the investment necessary to adopt new recycling technologies in pilot scale operations.

“Hybrid-electric vehicles are more fuel efficient, but require high power and energy advanced battery packs. Because of these requirements, they are larger than the highly recycled lead acid batteries found in conventional vehicles,” said USCAR Executive Director Don Walkowicz.

“USCAR’s Vehicle Recycling Partnership, representing the three U.S. automakers, is working to get ahead of the curve by promoting new technologies to recycle these batteries when hybrid vehicles reach their end-of-life.”

OnTo Technology develops new and clean processes to recycle advanced batteries from consumer electronics. The company has received support from the Oregon Department of Energy to build a pilot plant in Bend, Oregon.

The company currently recycles advanced batteries to recover micro- and nanomaterials for reuse. Batteries are normally smelted, with only the crude metal mixtures recovered.

To maximize the recycling yield, OnTo plans to work with Applied Intellectual Capital (AIC) of Emeryville, California, which funds, develops, patents and commercializes electrochemical and advanced separations technologies in clean energy, electricity storage, water treatment, metals recovery and other emerging markets.

The USCAR is an initiative of DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motors.

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