Unlocking Circular Value in EV Batteries Through Robotic Disassembly

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

The rapid adoption of electric vehicles is creating a growing volume of end-of-life batteries that must be processed safely, sustainably, and at scale. While current recycling methods recover raw materials efficiently, they often destroy functional cells and modules that could otherwise be reused, remanufactured, or repurposed. These higher-value circular economy pathways remain largely inaccessible because battery disassembly is still performed manually, making it hazardous, labour-intensive, costly, and difficult to scale.

This session presents a robotic disassembly technology being developed at the University of Birmingham to address this challenge. The platform combines a purpose-built robotic cell with a library of reusable disassembly skills that can be adapted across different battery designs and, ultimately, other products. By automating complex disassembly operations, the technology aims to improve safety, reduce costs, increase throughput, and unlock new value from end-of-life batteries.

The system is projected to deliver a 5.5× increase in throughput, over £15,000 in monthly operational savings, and a 1.33-year payback period. By removing operators from hazardous tasks and reducing reliance on energy-intensive refinement processes, it supports safer, more circular, and economically sustainable battery recycling.