For the last decade, there has been an increasing interest in electric vehicles in the automotive market. Global sales in 2023 exceeded 14 million vehicles, which is close to 16% market share of light vehicles the same year. This development implies a need for electric vehicle battery recycling in order to have sustainable end-of-life management for the material in the battery.

Stena Recycling AB started up its first industrial recycling facility for lithium-ion batteries in mid-2023. After discharging the battery, the batteries are shredded, and different materials, such as black mass, aluminum, plastic, copper, and iron are recovered. The facility is built to receive battery packs or battery modules. The development in the traction battery industry evolves rapidly and a challenge for Stena Recycling AB is to keep track of the trends in the industry. This concerns not only battery configuration but also future legal regulations and coming chemistry in electric vehicle batteries. This thesis is a desktop study investigating the above matters.

• Battery pack configuration – for the years to come, Stena Recycling AB will continue to receive batteries in cell-to-module configuration. Since the vehicle industry is cost and weight-sensitive, the development of cell-to-chassis configuration will likely speed up. This will implicate a change for Stena Recycling since their incoming delivery will be different from today.

• Battery pack sealing – to enter the battery pack in an efficient way is important for Stena Recycling AB, both regarding time efficiency and personnel safety. The trend is that more battery packs are sealed with adhesive like epoxy. This method is weight efficient and fast for the manufacturers but a problem for the recycling business.

• Battery cell chemistry – the NMC lithium-ion battery is developing towards more nickel and less cobalt. In the bigger picture, the trend is a shift from NMC towards LFP batteries. China is leading this change with Europe and the US as followers.

• EU regulations – From the beginning of 2027 every new battery shall have a digital battery passport to enhance transparency and provide information for other stakeholders, such as the recycling industry. Also, there will be recycling rates for cobalt, nickel, copper, lead, and lithium that will affect the recycling business.

These rates will be implemented at the end of 2027 and updated at the end of 2031. The electric vehicle battery branch where Stena Recycling AB is acting is moving fast with many initiatives from different actors. To continue to have a competitive advantage, it is vital that Stena Recycling is up to date with the latest trends.