High-tech Company Launches Innovative Project That Will Change Future Of EV Batteries

A significant step forward in EV sustainability is underway in Indiana. Electrified Materials, a subsidiary of American Resources Corporation, has received a federal permit to scale up its electric vehicle battery recycling operations.

The news, first reported by Charged Electric Vehicle magazine, centers on a newly granted Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Indiana’s Department of Environmental Management. With this permit, Electrified Materials is now authorized to preprocess and recycle materials including copper, aluminum, iron, rare earth elements, and critical minerals.

Mark Jensen, Chairman and CEO of American Resources, emphasized the strategic value of this advancement, calling it “a key milestone in scaling our recycling and refining partnership with ReElement Technologies.” Electrified Materials specializes in processing lithium-ion batteries from EV motors and other sources turning discarded power systems into valuable raw materials for reuse.

This circular approach is vital to addressing one of the few environmental concerns surrounding EVs. While electric vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions and reduce greenhouse gas pollution especially when powered by renewable sources like solar the production and disposal of their batteries raise serious environmental questions. Mining for raw materials is resource-intensive and can lead to ecological damage. Improper disposal of used batteries poses risks of soil and water contamination due to their toxic contents.

By enabling advanced recycling methods, Electrified Materials aims to minimize these risks. The company will extract usable mineral concentrates from old battery packs, which will then be refined by ReElement Technologies into high-grade materials suitable for new batteries and magnets. This process closes a crucial loop in the EV lifecycle ensuring that fewer hazardous materials end up in landfills while reducing dependence on virgin raw materials.

Jensen also pointed to state-level support as a critical accelerator. “This permit, combined with the $900,000+ grant from the State of Indiana and our strategic alignment with ReElement, will accelerate our expansion and strengthen our domestic footprint,” he said.