The partnership will leverage Lithion’s recycling process to advances EV battery circularity

Nissan Canada has inked a multi-year strategic partnership with Montreal-based clean tech company Lithion Technologies Inc. to recycle end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

Under the agreement, the two companies will use the Lithion hydrometallurgical recycling process to recover critical minerals from EV batteries for reuse.

Nissan says the collaboration will help reduce the demand for virgin resource extraction, minimize environmental impact and support the development of a circular battery supply chain in Canada.

“Partnering with Lithion Technologies allows us to take a proactive step toward a more sustainable EV ecosystem,” says Andrew Harkness, director of dealer network development, electrification, and corporate strategy at Nissan Canada Inc., in a press statement.

The partnership aligns with the Nissan global electrification strategy, which emphasizes reuse, recycling and responsible resource management throughout the EV lifecycle. It also supports the automaker’s sustainability goals by reducing waste, lowering emissions and strengthening the development of Canada’s domestic EV battery supply chain.

“Together, we’re helping to localize battery recycling, reduce dependence on mining, and support the growth of Canada’s clean tech sector,” Harkness adds.

Two-step recycling process

The hydrometallurgical recycling process developed by Lithion involves two main stages.

At its commercial critical minerals extraction plant in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que., Lithion receives, dismantles and shreds lithium-ion batteries to produce “black mass” — a concentrated mix of valuable materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and manganese.

The Saint-Bruno facility, which began operations in 2024, currently has the capacity to process 10,000 tonnes of batteries per year. At full capacity the plant will handle 20,000 tonnes, the equivalent of processing roughly 45,000 EV batteries annually.

In the second stage, Lithion will process the black mass at its hydrometallurgy plant and refine it into battery-grade lithium carbonate, nickel sulphate, and cobalt sulphate.

These recovered materials will then be reintroduced into the battery supply chain, closing the loop on EV battery production.

Lithion plans to break ground on its commercial hydrometallurgy facility in 2026. The company says its process enables recovery of up to 95 per cent of critical battery materials and 98 per cent of critical minerals, dramatically reducing waste and the need for new resource extraction.

The agreement with Nissan also builds on Lithion’s growing list of partnerships with automakers, which includes General Motors and Hyundai.

“We are thrilled to team with Nissan and support its vision for circularity of strategic and critical minerals from EVs,” said Yves Noël, Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer at Lithion Technologies.

“This partnership with Nissan Canada and its dealer network is another example of the collaborations needed to realize the quest for clean, safe and efficient circularity of EV batteries.”