Chair’s Opening Remarks: Building a Resilient and Circular Battery Ecosystem

Christopher Hug, Founder, NantoSuelta* Circular Economy Consulting

To date, economically viable recycling of traction batteries remains a challenge in Europe. Key cost drivers include high transportation expenses, the capital intensity of hydrometallurgical facilities, and the energy demands of thermal treatment processes. Lasting solutions require a shift in perspective: from optimizing isolated steps to designing an integrated system that aligns stakeholders and processes across the entire battery value chain.

Europe’s ambition to lead in battery innovation and sustainability is being tested by complex economic and logistical realities. Today, the recycling of traction batteries remains economically strained—burdened by high transport costs, energy-intensive processes, and the capital demands of large-scale hydrometallurgy.

But solving these challenges isn’t just a technical question—it’s a systems challenge.

Christopher will open the summit with a call to rethink how we design, collaborate, and scale. He will outline why isolated optimizations—whether in recycling technology or regulation—are not enough. Instead, we must reimagine the battery value chain as a connected, circular ecosystem: one that builds in resilience, local value creation, and material recapture from the start.

The opening remarks set the stage for two days of dialogue, innovation, and cross-sector action—aimed at accelerating a battery ecosystem that is not only circular, but truly built to last.

EV Battery Recycling in Europe: Market Dynamics, Capacity Outlook & Competitive Landscape

Jie (Jessie) Xu, Senior Research Analyst, Benchmark Minerals Intelligence

A comprehensive overview of installed and planned recycling capacity across the region, breaking down trends in feedstock availability, technology adoption, and market positioning.

Gain data-driven insight into the volumes of manufacturing scrap vs. end-of-life batteries, the shifting economics of recycled materials, and how policy and regulation are influencing investment, innovation, and strategic partnerships.

• Map the current and future capacity of recycling facilities across Europe.
  

• Compare feedstock streams: process scrap from gigafactories vs. retired batteries from EVs.
  

• Evaluate the economic and technical trade-offs of mechanical, pyro-, and hydrometallurgical processes.
  

• Understand how EU regulations are driving investment and shaping the recycling business model.
  

• Gain insight into the competitive landscape—key players, partnerships, and technology positioning.
  

• Analyze revenue models, material pricing trends, and where investor interest is flowing.

Scaling for Impact: From Pilot Lines to Industrial-Scale EV Battery Recycling by 2030

Nils Steinbrecher, Senior Director Sales & Key Account Management, Cylib

As battery retirement rates surge, Europe’s recycling infrastructure faces an inflection point. Most current facilities remain pilot-scale or semi-industrial, unable to process the expected flood of end-of-life batteries projected for the 2030s. Explores how industry leaders are bridging the gap between today’s limited capacity and tomorrow’s volume demands through process optimization, modular plant design, and data-driven planning.

How to scale up safely, economically, and sustainably—without compromising recovery rates or regulatory compliance.

Discussion Points:

• How to design recycling plants that can scale modularly without full redesign.
  

• Understand how simulation, data analytics, and battery lifecycle forecasting drive capacity planning.
  

• Explore industrial partnerships between OEMs, recyclers, and infrastructure providers to finance and accelerate expansion.
  

• Examine how automation and flexible process lines can future-proof facilities for evolving chemistries.
  

• Review case studies from Europe’s most advanced battery recycling scale-up projects.

Competing with Scale, Collaborating with Strategy: Lessons from China’s Battery Recycling Leadership

Robert Burrell, PhD, Research Manager, Project Blue

China boasts unmatched capacity, advanced hydrometallurgical processes, and seamless vertical integration from raw materials to cathode production. For Europe to remain competitive and secure its own circular battery ecosystem, it must strike a balance between building local scale and selectively collaborating with Chinese players.

This session explores how European OEMs, recyclers, and material suppliers can learn from China’s industrial model while preserving strategic autonomy. Topics include technology benchmarking, licensing vs proprietary IP, supply chain integration, and how Europe can shape a regulatory and investment environment that supports domestic innovation and global competitiveness.

• Benchmark China’s recycling technologies against emerging European processes in hydrometallurgy and direct recycling.
  

• Understand how China scaled capacity and throughput efficiently—and how Europe can avoid underutilization.
  

• Explore strategic options: Should Europe license mature Chinese tech or develop its own IP base?
  

• Identify opportunities for joint ventures, feedstock supply agreements, and collaboration on circular value chains.
  

• Assess how China’s state-backed investment strategies and export controls affect Europe’s battery ambitions.
  

• Learn how European recyclers can differentiate through ESG, traceability, and compliance with the EU Battery Regulation.

Design for Disassembly: Engineering Batteries for a Circular Future

Julius Müller, Strategy Lead, CIRCU LI-ION

The gap between battery performance optimization and end-of-life recyclability is a major barrier to circularity. Current cell-to-pack and structural battery designs, while advantageous for weight and range, complicate safe and cost-effective disassembly, material separation, and recycling. This session addresses how OEMs, battery designers, and recyclers can rethink battery architecture for easier end-of-life processing—without compromising performance.

Actionable design-for-disassembly strategies, including reversible adhesives, standardized fasteners, modular packs, and material labeling—all while maintaining structural integrity and thermal performance.

• Examine how battery architecture affects recyclability and total lifecycle cost.
  

• Discover new technologies enabling non-destructive pack opening and component separation.
  

• Learn how modular design, labeling systems, and common interface standards can accelerate disassembly.
  

• Understand the role of early collaboration between OEMs, battery designers, and recyclers in design specification.
  

• Explore best practices for balancing energy density, safety, and circularity in next-gen pack design.

Extended Producer Responsibility & Take-Back Systems: Building Scalable, Cost-Efficient Collection Networks for End-of-Life EV Batteries

Matteo Bonanno, Supplier Relationship Manager, European Recycling Platform (Landbell Group)

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks across Europe and globally are demanding more from OEMs and battery manufacturers. From regulatory mandates to environmental accountability, producers must now implement efficient, auditable, and scalable take-back systems—despite fragmented infrastructure and rising logistics costs.

This session will share real-world insights from the front lines of designing global battery take-back programs, focusing on how to meet compliance while optimizing reverse logistics. Drawing on field experience in cross-border collection, transport safety, partner coordination, and cost modeling, the presentation will offer practical strategies for building a robust EV battery collection supply chain that aligns with both regulatory expectations and business economics.

• How to build or improve a compliant take-back infrastructure tailored to EV batteries

• Ways to reduce logistics and collection costs while improving safety and traceability

• Strategies to collaborate effectively with recyclers, 3PLs, and collection partners

• How digital tools can increase visibility and reduce administrative complexity

Actionable ideas to scale take-back operations profitably ahead of the volume surge expected post-2030

Morning Networking Break

From Black Mass to Battery-Grade: Closing the Loop with Recovered Materials

Thomas Bibienne, Battery Materials and Recycling Lead, Hatch Manufacturing

Shifting from basic metal recovery to the production of high-purity, battery-grade materials that can re-enter the supply chain. This session examines the technical, chemical, and industrial challenges involved in refining black mass into precursor cathode active materials (pCAM) and cathode active materials (CAM) suitable for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Insights into material separation techniques, impurity control, and chemical purification processes that are enabling the shift from commodity-grade outputs to closed-loop, circular material streams. Special attention will be given to the integration of hydrometallurgical and thermal processing pathways, the development of industrial partnerships between recyclers and cathode manufacturers, and the performance validation of recycled materials in real battery cells.

• Processing black mass into battery-grade precursors (pCAM and CAM)
  

• Hydrometallurgical and thermal purification routes: pros, cons, and combinations
  

• Controlling impurities to meet OEM performance standards
  

• Quality assurance, traceability, and analytical benchmarks for recycled materials
  

• Techno-economic challenges in scaling production from lab to gigafactory scale
  

• Strategic partnerships between recyclers, cell manufacturers, and OEMs
  

• The role of recycled materials in meeting EU circularity and ESG targets

Direct Recycling: Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Industrial Application

Marilena Mancini, Team Leader, Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW)

Direct recycling holds immense promise for preserving the structure and value of cathode materials, offering a lower-energy, lower-emission alternative to traditional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes. Yet despite its potential, direct recycling remains largely confined to lab-scale projects due to unresolved technical challenges—including the ability to recover active materials without degrading performance or purity.

This session presents solutions that are pushing direct recycling toward commercial readiness. Topics include validation of recycled materials in electrodes and cells with commercially valid standards, cathode relithiation advancements, graphite recycling, open challenges and opportunities for industrialization pathways.

• Explore recent breakthroughs in healing cathode and anode functionalities and chemistry during recycling.
  

• Understand the engineering requirements for scaling direct recycling from pilot to industrial plants.
  

• Review techniques for quality control and post-processing (e.g., relithiation, purification).
  

• Learn how solvent-free processes can improve efficiency and scalability.
  

• Identify secondary Li resources for cathode recycling closed-loop

Direct Recycling & Electrolyte Recovery: From Pilot Success to OEM Collaboration

Andrea Mirandola, Sales Director, Duesenfeld GmbH

A call to action to scale next-gen low-temperature battery recycling solutions.

This session explores how Duesenfeld GmbH’s cutting-edge, low-temperature direct recycling process recovers high-value materials—including electrolyte solvents—in a form suitable for reuse in new cells.

Building on recent R&D breakthroughs and successful pilot-scale validations, Andrea Mirandola will share insights into the technical challenges and solutions involved in recovering and rebalancing complex cathode chemistries and electrolytes. Attendees will gain a transparent view of what works, what doesn’t, and why collaboration is critical to bridging the gap between lab-scale success and industrial-scale implementation.

This is more than a technical update—it’s a strategic call to OEMs, cell manufacturers, and system integrators: let’s co-develop the next phase of circular battery recovery. With the foundation proven, the opportunity now lies in joint scale-up efforts that can help the entire industry meet regulatory demands and sustainability goals.

• Advantages of low-temperature direct recycling for material recovery and carbon reduction

• Electrolyte recovery: addressing the complexity of solvents and additives

• Pilot results: material purity, yield, and reuse potential

• Barriers to commercialization and where OEM support is essential

• Outlook on meeting EU recycled content targets through strategic partnerships

Closing The Loop For Graphite

Robin Hansson, Recycling Manager, Vianode

Graphite is the backbone of lithium-ion batteries. As Europe scales up gigafactories, securing low-carbon, sustainable supply is critical. Vianode is pioneering the integration of recycled graphite into commercial-scale anode material production, closing the loop while reducing reliance on virgin resources.

Through proprietary process technologies and a targeted CO₂e reduction strategy, Vianode is building an industrial platform where innovation meets impact.

With the EU Battery Regulation mandating recycled content and tightening sustainability requirements, graphite recycling is no longer optional – it’s a market necessity. Yet, challenges remain: aligning regulations with real incentives, and bridging the gap between circular ambitions and market adoption

Key Discussion Points:

• Integrating recycled graphite into commercial-scale anode material production

• Vianode’s proprietary technologies and CO₂e reduction strategy

• Collaboration with Fortum and lessons learned in scaling a circular supply chain

• Meeting EU requirements for recycled content and future market outlook

• Offtake perspective – why customers are not yet committing despite regulation

• The discrepancy between regulations and incentives, and what is needed to unlock investment and adoption

Beyond Battery Passports: Enabling Sovereign Data Sharing Across the EV Lifecycle

Dhananjay Tamhankar, Consultant, Product & Systems Engineering, Deloitte

As the EV industry embraces digital product passports, the conversation must move beyond the concept of battery passports to the trust infrastructure that enables them. This session focuses on the compliance frameworks, open standards, and technology stack – such as GAIA-X, IDTA, and International Data Spaces (IDS), that make secure, sovereign data sharing possible across the entire product lifecycle. Rooted in European values of data sovereignty, transparency, and interoperability, the session provides attendees with a clear understanding of how semantic technologies and governance models support regulatory compliance and scalable implementation.

The session concludes with a call to action for stakeholders to actively contribute to shaping and deploying trusted data ecosystems for battery lifecycle transparency.

Key Discussion Points:

• Navigating the Compliance Landscape: Decipher emerging regulations mandating secure, standardized battery lifecycle data.

• Leveraging Open Standards for Interoperability: Explore how GAIA-X, IDTA, and IDS facilitate trusted and sovereign data exchange.

• Unpacking the Technology Stack: Discover the semantic tools, connectors, and identity management systems powering battery passport infrastructure.

• Fostering Ecosystem Collaboration: Understand the crucial role of collaboration between OEMs, recyclers, technology providers, and policymakers in developing scalable solutions.

• Joining the Movement: Receive practical guidance on implementing data strategies, systems integration, and change management – and become a part of shaping the future of battery passports. Join the movement!

Networking Lunch Break

Closing The Loop: Perspectives From A Plant Builder

Dr. Michel Siemon, CEO, Primoius

As Europe accelerates its push for sustainable battery supply chains, the ability to recycle materials at scale and with efficiency is critical. This keynote will provide a deep dive into the technical and process-oriented challenges of creating true end-to-end recycling plants—from safe discharging and disassembly of EV batteries through to shredding, hydrometallurgical processing, and delivery of high-purity recovered materials.

The presentation will share the perspective of a leading German recycling technology provider, based near Cologne and Düsseldorf, on how integrated solutions can optimize processes, minimize waste, and meet the diverse needs of OEMs, recyclers, and material suppliers.

Key Discussion Points:

• Engineering safe and efficient processes for EV battery discharging and disassembly
  

• Optimizing shredding and hydrometallurgical steps for maximum recovery of critical raw materials
  

• Delivering flexible plant solutions tailored to OEMs, battery producers, and recyclers
  

• Balancing technical process design with broader economic challenges in the recycling value chain
  

• Case studies of customer-driven projects and lessons learned from implementation

Leveraging Advanced Factory Automation Based on Robotics and AI for Battery Recycling

Dr. Andreas Letsch, Director Center of Competence Factory Automation Battery, Bosch Rexroth

With the growing diversity of EV battery formats and chemistries entering the recycling stream, manual sorting will become a bottleneck—leading to inefficiencies, safety risks, and contamination. Scalability and adaptability are musts to anticipate the growing but still volatile feedstock. We explore how future systems based on AI, robotics and advance factory automation could look like to overcome these challenges. We will focus on the so-called pre-treatment phase of battery recycling, which includes dis-mantling and dis-charging.

• Challenge 1) is to sort and identify the incoming battery systems: e.g. by support of machine vision and AI to identify the type, but also to detect the physical state to classify to be hazardous e.g. due to pre-damage

• Challenge 2) is to identify state-of-health: with AI support this measurement, which requires today typically a full discharging-charging cycle, can be improved significantly to improve productivity and thruput

• Challenge 3) is safe dis-charging of the battery: with AI assistance the worker and/or robot can be directed to ensure a safe contacting of the battery system; after contacting smart algorithms control the dis-charging process to ensure high speed while keeping the battery system in a controlled and safe state

Extending Solvent Lifespan in Hydrometallurgical Recycling: Tackling Extraction Losses and Efficiency Challenges

Hassan Abdallah Mohamed, Researcher, LUT University

Solvent extraction is a critical step in hydrometallurgical recycling, enabling the selective recovery of valuable elements such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. Yet despite its central role, the process remains constrained by the shortened lifespan of solvent extractants. Losses, degradation, and efficiency drops not only drive up operational costs but also create bottlenecks for scaling Europe’s recycling capacity.

This presentation will examine the underlying causes of solvent losses and reduced efficiency in EV battery recycling processes—ranging from chemical instability and contamination to process integration issues—and outline potential pathways to extend solvent lifetimes. Drawing on research within the BatCircle 3 consortium, the talk will highlight ongoing work to mitigate these challenges and improve the economic and environmental performance of hydrometallurgical recycling.

Key discussion points:

• Identifying the root causes of solvent losses and reduced extraction efficiency in battery recycling.

• The impact of extractant degradation on process stability, recovery rates, and cost-effectiveness.

• Innovative approaches to extend solvent lifespan and reduce chemical consumption.

• How improved solvent management can accelerate the industrial scaling of hydrometallurgical recycling.

• Insights from the BatCircle 3 consortium’s ongoing research and proposed solutions.

OEM-Led Circularity: Building Closed-Loop Battery Recycling for Cost and Supply Security

Ali Uğur Tülüoğlu, Product Sustainability Engineer, FORD OTOSAN

Major automakers are no longer relying solely on third-party recyclers—instead, they are internalizing circular economy strategies to take control of battery material flows. Companies like Volkswagen, Renault, and Stellantis are investing in in-house recycling capabilities or forming strategic partnerships to develop closed-loop systems that ensure long-term access to critical raw materials while reducing environmental impact and cost volatility.

This session highlights how leading OEMs are designing vertically integrated recycling models, embedding circularity into battery design, and working with recyclers to build dedicated recovery pathways. Attendees will gain actionable insights into how circular strategies enhance supply chain resilience, regulatory compliance, and ESG performance.

• Explore how OEMs are integrating recycling infrastructure directly into their production and battery value chains.
  

• Learn how closed-loop systems can reduce raw material costs, logistics emissions, and reliance on foreign-sourced virgin materials.
  

• Understand how OEM-recycler partnerships are structured to balance risk, cost, and innovation.
  

• Discover how circularity is being embedded in battery design to enable future recovery and reuse.
  

• Review real-world case studies of OEM-led recycling hubs, pilot plants, and digital traceability platforms.

Unlocking Second-Life Value: Making the Economics of Stationary Energy Storage Work for End-of-Life EV Batteries

Kilian Sagner, Manager, Energy Storage Systems & Circular Battery Strategy, FEV Consulting

Not all EV batteries at the end of their vehicle life are ready for recycling—many retain significant capacity and can be repurposed into valuable second-life applications. From grid support and commercial storage to off-grid and residential systems, reusing batteries before recycling can dramatically enhance sustainability and ROI across the battery lifecycle. Yet despite the promise, making second-life applications economically viable—especially with true end-of-life (EoL) batteries—remains a major hurdle.

This session presents a practical framework for overcoming the technical and financial barriers to second-life battery deployment at scale. Backed by real-world data from FEV’s CycleBat lifecycle calculation tool, it introduces a novel approach that enables the economic use of EoL batteries—not just ‘second-chance’ near-new units—and demonstrates how profitability, performance, and sustainability can be aligned through better grading, diagnostics, and circular business modeling.

• How automated diagnostic tools assess remaining battery health and match assets to appropriate second-life applications

• Real-world performance and business case data supporting the economic viability of second-life energy storage systems

• Why current reuse models are limited—and what’s needed to scale beyond small-batch or startup concepts
  

• Testing, certification, and monitoring strategies for safe and reliable second-life deployment
  

• How second-life use cases defer recycling costs and increase lifecycle value
  

• Partnership models between OEMs, utilities, and reuse platforms driving closed-loop success

By shifting the conversation from theoretical value to commercially viable execution, this session outlines the path to scalable, profitable second-life ecosystems in Europe and beyond.

Black Mass with a Low Carbon Footprint: How Hydrovolt is Setting New Standards

Helge H. Refsum, Chief Technology Officer, Hydrovolt

One of the most critical outputs—black mass—is a precursor to the recovery of valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. But how it’s produced matters just as much as what it contains.

This session showcases Hydrovolt, one of Europe’s leading battery recyclers, and its pioneering approach to producing black mass with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry. Now fully owned by Hydro, Hydrovolt operates one of Scandinavia’s most advanced EV battery recycling plants and is setting new benchmarks in emission reduction, material recovery rates, and circular integration.

Through this case study, attendees will learn how Hydrovolt combines renewable energy, high-efficiency mechanical processing, and strategic material partnerships to set new standards in sustainable black mass production.

• What makes black mass “low-carbon”?

• Hydrovolt’s facility in Fredrikstad: design choices that reduce emissions

• Strategies for minimizing waste, emissions, and transport impacts

• Scaling up: regulatory, logistical, and economic challenges

• How Hydrovolt’s model compares with traditional recycling routes

Networking Break

Policy in Action: How the Circular Economy Action Plan and EU Battery Regulation Are Shaping a Circular Battery Value Chain

Dr. Tom Vöge, Director Public Policy, GRS Service

As electric vehicles become integral to Europe’s decarbonization goals, building a circular and resilient battery value chain is no longer optional—it’s a strategic and regulatory necessity. This session will examine how European policy instruments—from the EU Battery Regulation to national end-of-life strategies—are reshaping industrial practices and market dynamics in battery recycling, reuse, and raw material recovery.

Framed by the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan, which seeks to decouple economic growth from resource consumption and achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the discussion will explore how legislation is enabling the transition to a truly circular battery economy.

Key discussion points will include:

• How EU and national policies incentivize innovation and scale-up of recycling technologies
  

• The role of extended producer responsibility (EPR) and traceability mechanisms
  

• Lessons from national programs in countries like Norway, Germany, and France, including collection schemes, economic incentives, and public-private partnerships
  

• Strategies to reduce reliance on imported critical raw materials and ensure secure, local supply chains
  

• How policy coherence across Member States can support long-term investment and industrial resilience
  

Featuring perspectives from policymakers, regulatory experts, OEMs, and recyclers, this session will provide a multi-stakeholder view of how legislation can drive both environmental and economic value in Europe’s emerging battery ecosystem.

Scaling Smart: Modular, Decentralized Battery Recycling for Regional Circularity

Myeongjin (MJ) Choi, Strategic Lead, Modular Recycling & Regional Circularity Programs, Green Li-ion

Large centralized recycling facilities often face high transport costs, regulatory delays, and logistical complexity—especially as EV battery volumes surge and chemistries diversify. Modular, decentralized recycling plants offer a flexible, scalable solution by enabling material recovery close to battery take-back, gigafactories, or OEM service hubs.

The technological design, integration, and real-world deployment of small-footprint recycling units that bring processing closer to the source. Attendees will gain insights into how modular systems lower costs, reduce emissions, and support localized closed-loop supply chains.

• Learn how modular recycling units operate—from mechanical separation to chemical pre-processing.
  

• Understand how decentralization improves responsiveness, reduces transport risk, and simplifies permitting.
  

• Explore strategies for siting near OEM plants, collection centers, and manufacturing scrap hubs.
  

• Discover how modular plants are integrated into broader spoke-and-hub or closed-loop recycling networks.
  

• Review examples of commercial deployments and pilot projects from leading innovators.
  

• Examine economic models, CAPEX/OPEX considerations, and scalability for regional markets.

Maximizing Profitability: Operational Strategies to Improve Cost Efficiency in EV Battery Recycling

Hans Eric Melin, Managing Director, Circular Energy Storage

Maintaining profitability while meeting regulatory, safety, and sustainability requirements remains a critical challenge. This session focuses on practical strategies for improving cost-efficiency across the value chain—from material handling and labor optimization to supply chain integration and data-driven process improvement.:

• Identify major cost drivers in battery recycling—including labor, logistics, compliance, and energy—and how to manage them effectively.
  

• Explore automation and digitalization solutions that reduce operational costs and improve consistency.
  

• Learn how optimized material recovery processes can maximize value extraction and improve ROI.
  

• Review best practices for supply chain efficiency and continuous improvement using data analytics.
  

• Discover profitable business models that incorporate second-life applications, value-added services, and recovered material markets.
  

• Understand how partnerships, service diversification, and strategic positioning can expand revenue opportunities.
  

• Gain insight into financial planning, budgeting tools, and risk mitigation strategies tailored to recycling operations.

Battery Passports Meet Cyber Security: Protecting Data Across the EV Lifecycle

Florian Ebert, Principal Consultant – Industrial Cyber Security, Deloitte

As battery passports become a regulatory and operational standard, the focus on data collection has overshadowed the cyber security risks associated with storing and sharing high-value battery data. This session explores the critical intersection of digital traceability, cyber resilience, and the circular economy. Florian Ebert will highlight how data vulnerabilities in battery passports and recycling systems can lead to IP theft, data manipulation, and real-world consequences—including safety risks and reputational damage.

From battery development to second-life use and end-of-life recycling, this presentation demonstrates how cyber security must be embedded across the full product lifecycle to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient recycling operations.

• Why battery passport data is a high-value cyber asset—and how it’s being overlooked.
  

• Real-world incidents: How data exploitation (e.g., vehicle tracking via battery metadata) has exposed security gaps.
  

• The risks of data manipulation in recycling: fake usage history, incorrect thermal data, or spoofed lifecycle information.
  

• How to integrate cyber security into the entire battery lifecycle—from manufacturing to dismantling.

• Best practices for ensuring data integrity, regulatory compliance, and IP protection.

Extending Battery Lifespan through Second-Life Innovation: Safe, Compliant, and Scalable Energy Storage from Used EV Modules

David Oudsandji, Co-Founder & CEO, VoltFang

As electric vehicles continue to scale globally, the industry faces a critical challenge—and opportunity—in managing end-of-life EV batteries. This session presents VoltFang’s innovative approach to repurposing decommissioned EV battery modules into safe, high-performance stationary energy storage systems. Leveraging advanced diagnostics, digital tracking, and stringent safety protocols, VoltFang delivers scalable solutions that extend battery lifespan and reduce environmental impact.

The presentation will explore how second-life systems are engineered for reliability and compliance with evolving EU Battery Regulations, including requirements for reuse, carbon footprint reporting, and design traceability. Technical insights will be shared on battery selection, module testing, system integration, and safety strategies that ensure performance in commercial and industrial environments.

By delaying recycling through intelligent reuse, VoltFang bridges the gap between vehicle end-of-life and material recovery, offering a critical pathway to true circularity in the battery value chain.

• Technical design and safety considerations in second-life battery systems
  

• How second-life solutions support compliance with EU End-of-Life and Circular Economy regulations
  

• Real-world deployment examples of VoltFang energy storage systems in commercial settings
  

• The role of digital tracking and diagnostics in enabling second-life viability
  

• Environmental and economic benefits of reuse before recycling

Quantum Leaps in Circularity: How Blockchain and Quantum Computing Are Transforming Traceability in Battery Recycling

Ravi Gade, Founder & CEO, ES Technologies, Bridge Green Upcycle

As the EV battery value chain grows more complex, ensuring transparent, tamper-proof, and real-time traceability from manufacturing through second life and end-of-life becomes mission-critical. This session explores how emerging digital technologies—namely blockchain and quantum computing—are poised to revolutionize traceability, compliance, and resource recovery across the battery recycling ecosystem.

We will dive into the role of blockchain as a decentralized ledger technology for securely tracking materials across international supply chains—capturing provenance data, recycling histories, and carbon intensity at every stage. From black mass classification to state-of-health data for reuse, blockchain enables a new level of data integrity and auditability, essential for meeting EU Battery Passport and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandates.

In parallel, quantum computing is opening new frontiers in real-time material flow optimization, process simulation, and cryptographic security for recycling infrastructures. Attendees will learn how quantum algorithms can accelerate material sorting, predictive disassembly, and complex logistics modeling, driving efficiency gains previously out of reach.

• Blockchain for secure material traceability and EU Battery Passport compliance
  

• Use cases for blockchain in managing carbon footprints, EPR reporting, and second-life certifications
  

• Quantum computing applications for black mass analysis, disassembly simulation, and supply chain optimization
  

• Challenges in system integration, interoperability, and digital infrastructure investment
  

• Real-world pilot projects and cross-industry collaborations leading the way in Europe
  

• Policy frameworks and funding mechanisms enabling adoption of these technologies

Chairs Closing Remarks

Drinks Party & Currywurst