Fleet management company Zenith has signed a new agreement with recell.store, the UK’s first online marketplace for used EV batteries and part of Altilium, to develop a comprehensive solution for the safe and sustainable disposal of end-of-life and damaged electric vehicle batteries.
The partnership supports Zenith’s wider decarbonisation strategy and aligns with the UK’s transition to net zero, with a focus on carbon savings and circular economy principles.
Under the memorandum of understanding, recell.store will manage batteries retired from Zenith’s EV fleet, aiming to maximise reuse and repurposing before sending any non-reusable units for recycling at Altilium’s Devon facilities.
BEVs currently make up nearly 50% of Zenith’s fleet – around 28,417 vehicles – including 100% of its colleague car fleet. With approximately 100 battery-electric write-offs expected each year, the initiative provides a structured route for dealing with redundant battery assets and aligns with environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibilities.
Used batteries will be processed via recell.store’s digital platform, which enables second-life applications where suitable.
Where batteries are beyond repair or repurposing, Altilium will recover valuable raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel using its EcoCathode™ process – a method capable of recovering over 95% of cathode metals with up to 74% lower emissions compared to mining.
Rod Savage, head of operations at recell.store, said: “We’re excited to be partnering with Zenith to build the foundations of a circular economy for EV batteries in the UK.
“Together, we’re making it easier and safer for fleet owners to handle EV battery disposal responsibly and meet their ESG requirements, while unlocking second-life value and reducing environmental impact.”
Alan Bastey, decarbonisation and sustainability consultant at Zenith, added: “Finding a safe and ethical way to dispose of batteries addresses a current and growing issue in our sector.
“This partnership ensures we have the foundations in place to enable us to manage the asset responsibly on behalf of our customer, while setting standards within the industry.”
With over 100 million EV batteries expected to be retired globally over the next decade, the partnership marks a proactive step towards managing battery waste responsibly and establishing a sustainable UK supply chain for critical battery materials.
This story was first featured in our sister title The Haulier.
