ARISA – CIRCBAT

The CIRCBAT project will investigate the automated treatment of end-of-life Li-ion batteries to maximise the recovery of critical materials and promote circularity across the battery value chain. The innovation will be based on the creation of a laboratory prototype incorporating robotics, artificial vision and selective separation processes to dismantle batteries safely and flexibly. The project will seek to obtain clean and traceable fractions, such as cathode materials, anode materials and metal current collectors, facilitating direct recycling while reducing costs, operational risks and environmental impact.

The Problem

The growth of electric vehicles is increasing the volume of end-of-life Li-ion batteries. These batteries contain critical materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, copper and aluminium, whose recovery is essential to strengthen industrial autonomy and reduce dependence on external raw materials.

However, their dismantling and treatment remain complex and costly processes involving risks such as short circuits, leaks, toxic gases and fires. Furthermore, the diversity of battery formats and designs makes standardisation difficult and limits the scalability of recycling. It is therefore necessary to develop automated, safe and flexible solutions that enable the recovery of clean and traceable materials for their subsequent recycling and reintroduction into the value chain.

The Project

To address this challenge, ARISA is leading CIRCBAT, an industrial research project focused on the automated treatment of end-of-life Li-ion batteries. The initiative will develop and validate a laboratory prototype for the flexible, automated and safe dismantling of electric vehicle batteries, combining robotics, artificial vision, intelligent guidance and selective separation.

CIRCBAT covers the dismantling of battery packs, modules and cells, as well as the separation of active materials and the recovery of lithium and cathode materials. CARTIF and TECNALIA will participate as subcontracted entities, providing specialised technical capabilities. The objective is to obtain cleaner and more traceable fractions while reducing costs, risks and environmental impact in battery recycling.

The Impact

CIRCBAT represents an important step forward for the circularity of the battery value chain and the development of safer and more efficient industrial processes. On the one hand, the project will contribute to improving the recovery of critical materials found in Li-ion batteries. On the other hand, it will reduce dependence on more intensive recycling processes, encouraging direct recycling routes with fewer stages.

The automation of the treatment process can provide key advantages in terms of safety, repeatability, traceability and productivity. Furthermore, the use of robotics and artificial vision will allow the process to adapt to different battery configurations, strengthening the flexibility of the system. This approach can also reduce risks for operators and improve operational control during the critical dismantling stages. At the same time, it will facilitate the recovery of cleaner and better-classified materials, increasing their potential for reuse and recycling. At a strategic level, CIRCBAT is aligned with European objectives related to the circular economy, the energy transition and the strengthening of the industrial battery value chain.

The Result

Thanks to the specialised support of Evolution Europe, ARISA secured a grant of €1,057,523 through the CVI SEPIDES 2025 programme, based on an eligible budget of €1,762,538.42, to develop the CIRCBAT project. Evolution Europe supported ARISA throughout the preparation, structuring and submission of the proposal, helping to define a robust project that was aligned with the objectives of the call and properly justified from both a technical and economic perspective. This support was key to securing the funding.

The grant will enable the research, development and validation of a laboratory prototype for the automated treatment of end-of-life Li-ion batteries, advancing automated dismantling, selective separation and the recovery of critical materials. In the long term, CIRCBAT will lay the foundations for future scaling and industrialisation phases, strengthening ARISA’s position in industrial automation, battery recycling and the circular economy.