Lithion Recycling
Lithion Technologies is a Montreal-based battery recycling company that uses proprietary hydrometallurgical processes to recover up to 95% of critical minerals (lithium, nickel, cobalt) from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries for North American EV manufacturers and transit operators; the company entered bankruptcy protection in 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersQuebec, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lithion Recycling does
Lithion Technologies (operating as Lithion Recycling) is a Montreal-based private company founded in 2017 that operates end-of-life lithium-ion battery recycling. Its core technology is a proprietary hydrometallurgical process that the company reports can recover up to 95% of battery components — including lithium, nickel, cobalt, and other critical minerals — for resale into new battery production. Lithion is described in its own material as the only Quebec operator combining pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical steps in an integrated process. Primary customers are North American EV manufacturers and public transit operators, with named OEM partnerships including General Motors (since September 2022), Hyundai Canada (since October 2024), and Nova Bus (since December 2024). Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range.
The business model layers three revenue streams: (1) processing fees for end-of-life battery recycling services, (2) resale of recovered critical and strategic minerals to battery manufacturers and industrial buyers, and (3) technology licensing through a partnership program that allows third parties to build their own recycling factories using Lithion's process globally. Distribution is entirely direct B2B; no public pricing exists, and there are no traditional sales or retail channels. The Centre of Excellence, located in Quebec alongside the Saint-Bruno processing site, supports internal R&D. Investors disclosed in the data include GM Ventures (Series A lead, 2022), Fondaction and IMM Investment (lead, January 2022), Investissement Quebec and the Government of Quebec (April 2022), and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (2018).
Lithion's operational footprint consisted of one commercial recycling factory in Saint-Bruno, Quebec, completed in June 2024, with a hydrometallurgical plant planned for 2025. Notably, a June 2026 Quebec auditor general report identified Lithion among four battery-sector companies that entered bankruptcy protection, with $676 million of aggregate provincial investments at risk across the group. The company's website remained publicly accessible through 2024, but operating status in the available data is flagged as closed, indicating the commercial trajectory did not extend meaningfully beyond early-stage recycling throughput before the insolvency event.
Lithion Recycling firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lithion Recycling
- Legal name
- Lithion Technologies
- Website
- https://lithionrecycling.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lithion Technologies is a Montreal-based battery recycling company that uses proprietary hydrometallurgical processes to recover up to 95% of critical minerals (lithium, nickel, cobalt) from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries for North American EV manufacturers and transit operators; the company entered bankruptcy protection in 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lithion Recycling industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Battery Recycling and Critical Mineral Recovery
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Waste Collection (56211)
- SIC
- Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Direct Recycling & Cathode Regeneration (Relithiation, Reconditioning) (EUAFACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pyrometallurgical Recycling (Smelting, Thermal Treatment) (EUAFACAE), Collection, Logistics & Reverse Supply Chain (Transport, Sorting, Tracking) (EUAFACAA), Battery Materials Refining & Re-Manufacturing Feedstocks (Li, Ni, Co, Mn, Graphite Salts) (EUAIAIAJ), Battery Recycling & Materials Recovery (Li-ion, LFP, Flow, Lead-Acid) (EUAMALAE)
Keywords
Where Lithion Recycling is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Quebec
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lithion Recycling business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Battery Recycling Services: The company recycles end-of-life lithium-ion batteries for clients, recovering critical materials that can be remarketed to battery manufacturers and other industrial buyers. Revenue is generated through processing fees and sale of recovered materials.
- Recycled Strategic Materials: Lithion remarkets recovered critical minerals (nickel, cobalt, lithium, and other strategic materials) extracted from recycled batteries. These materials are sold back to battery manufacturers and industrial customers for reuse in new battery production.
- Technology Licensing: The company deploys its recycling technologies globally by partnering with other companies, enabling them to build their own battery recycling factories. This represents a licensing and partnership-based revenue stream for international expansion.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Lithion Recycling product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lithion Recycling provides end-of-life lithium-ion battery recycling services using proprietary hydrometallurgical processing to recover up to 95% of critical minerals (lithium, nickel, cobalt) for resale to battery manufacturers. The company also licenses its recycling technology globally, enabling partners to build their own battery recycling factories.
Product overview
Lithion Technologies operates a multi-solution battery recycling ecosystem consisting of core recycling operations and strategic material recovery, a partner deployment program for global technology licensing, and an internal R&D Centre of Excellence. The portfolio includes end-of-life battery collection and recycling services, sale of recovered critical minerals (nickel, lithium, cobalt), factory deployment partnerships, and dedicated hydrometallurgical processing facilities achieving up to 95% material recovery rates. The company completed its first commercial factory in 2024 and plans to expand with a hydrometallurgical plant in 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Battery Recycling Program (Recyclez vos batteries!) End-of-life lithium-ion battery recycling service that recovers valuable materials for reuse in new batteries, offered to enterprise customers and battery owners.
- Recycled Strategic Materials (Matériaux recyclés)
- Lithion Partnership Program (Devenez notre partenaire!) Licensing and deployment program enabling partners worldwide to build their own battery recycling factories using Lithion's proprietary hydrometallurgical technology.
- Hydrometallurgical Plant Advanced hydrometallurgical processing plant for extracting and recovering battery materials with up to 95% recovery rate, supporting large-scale critical mineral production.
Quantifiable outcome
- Recovers over 95% of battery materials for reuse
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Lithion Recycling
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lithion Recycling technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Lithion Recycling partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Nova BuscoreNova Bus partnered with Lithion Technologies to strengthen sustainable electrification of public transportation. This partnership supports the transition to electric public transit by providing responsible battery end-of-life management.
- HyundaiflagshipLithion became the official partner of Hyundai for the collection and recycling of electric vehicle batteries in Canada. This partnership establishes Lithion as Hyundai's preferred partner for EV battery recycling services in the Canadian market.
- General Motors (GM)flagshipGeneral Motors (GM) and Lithion Recycling announced a strategic partnership and investment from GM Ventures to develop a circular EV battery ecosystem. The collaboration focuses on recycling lithium-ion batteries using Lithion's technology to recover over 95% of battery materials, reduce emissions, and support GM's scaling of electric vehicle production in North America.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lithion Recycling competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Umicore: Belgium-based global materials technology and recycling group with established battery materials/refining business — broader incumbent serving overlapping OEMs and battery materials markets.
- Northvolt: Swedish integrated battery manufacturer and recycler (volt-loop recycling) — overlapping battery recycling and materials-recovery focus; broader scope as a cell manufacturer. Also identified in the Quebec auditor general cohort alongside Lithion.
- Glencore: Global mining and commodities giant with significant battery materials recycling and cobalt/nickel recovery operations — broader incumbent competing for recovered critical minerals supply.
Direct peers
- Redwood Materials: US-based lithium-ion battery recycler founded by JB Straubel, recovering critical materials for reuse by Panasonic/Tesla and other OEMs — directly comparable recycling service and OEM partnership model.
- Li-Cycle: Canadian lithium-ion battery recycler using hydrometallurgical processes (spoke-and-hub model) — directly comparable technology approach and North American footprint to Lithion.
- Ascend Elements: US-based hydrometallurgical battery recycler using Hydro-to-Cathode™ direct precursor synthesis — directly comparable proprietary hydrometallurgical recycling approach and OEM supply focus.
- Cirba Solutions: North American battery materials and recycling company providing collection, processing, and materials recovery for EV and industrial batteries — directly comparable service offering and customer base.
Emerging players
- Element Energy: US-based battery diagnostics and second-life battery company focused on reuse and repurposing — adjacent emerging player in the broader lithium-ion circular economy.
Regional players
- Hydrovolt: Norway-based battery recycling joint venture (Norsk Hydro and Northvolt) operating a commercial lithium-ion battery recycling plant — comparable hydrometallurgical recycling, but primarily serving European market.
- Fortum: Finland-based energy company operating a commercial lithium-ion battery recycling hydrometallurgical facility — comparable technology but primarily serving European markets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lithion Recycling social profiles
Digital presenceLithion Recycling financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lithion Recycling leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Lithion Recycling funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lithion Recycling M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lithion Recycling
What does Lithion Recycling do?
Lithion Recycling provides end-of-life lithium-ion battery recycling services using proprietary hydrometallurgical processing to recover up to 95% of critical minerals (lithium, nickel, cobalt) for resale to battery manufacturers. The company also licenses its recycling technology globally, enabling partners to build their own battery recycling factories.
Is Lithion Recycling a public or private company?
Lithion Recycling is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently closed.
When was Lithion Recycling founded?
Lithion Recycling was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lithion Recycling based?
Lithion Recycling is headquartered in Quebec, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Lithion Recycling make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Battery Recycling Services are the primary driver. The others are recycled Strategic Materials and technology Licensing.
Who are Lithion Recycling's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Umicore, Northvolt and Glencore. Direct peers are Redwood Materials, Li-Cycle, Ascend Elements and Cirba Solutions. Element Energy is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Hydrovolt and Fortum.
Does Lithion Recycling have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lithion Recycling.
What industry is Lithion Recycling in?
Lithion Recycling's product category is Battery Recycling and Critical Mineral Recovery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFACAF, Direct Recycling & Cathode Regeneration (Relithiation, Reconditioning), with a secondary code of EUAFACAE, Pyrometallurgical Recycling (Smelting, Thermal Treatment). Its NAICS code is 562920 and its SIC code is 4955.