Lithion Technologies, formerly Lithion Recycling, will launch its first commercial critical mineral extraction plant, positioning the Quebec company at the forefront of enabling a circular economy for electric vehicle batteries in North America.
The 15,000-square-foot plant in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec will annually process 15,000 tons of used lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles as well as waste from battery manufacturing to recover lithium, cobalt, nickel and other minerals that can be recycled into new batteries.
Lithion aims to establish a sustainable loop for battery materials as the world transitions to electrified transportation.
This will allow the company to produce strategic minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel that can be reused by battery manufacturers to make new lithium-ion batteries in a sustainable loop. The plant is expected to recover up to 95 per cent of components from the batteries and waste.
“I am thrilled that we have reached this major milestone,” said Benoit Couture, president and CEO of Lithion Technologies.
“From the onset, our goal at Lithion has been to make the energy transition truly sustainable by enabling the full circularity of battery materials. Today’s accomplishment is testament to the unparalleled level of innovation, collaboration and integrity demonstrated by our team.”
The plant is strategically located just outside Montreal with easy access to batteries and waste from across Canada and the United States. Its construction was made possible through $22 million in funding from the Quebec government through Investissement Quebec and the Transition Energetique Quebec Fund, IMM Investment Global, Fondaction, and General Motors.
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Second facility to open in 2026
A second 20,000-square-foot hydrometallurgy facility to further refine the minerals is set to open on an adjacent site in 2026 following an upcoming financing round and site selection.
The developments strengthen North America’s battery supply chain and enable the circular economy of battery materials, according to Couture.
The company also announced today it has changed its name from Lithium Recycling to Lithion Technologies to better reflect its work in extracting and purifying strategic minerals beyond recycling.
“We offer our strategic partners more than cutting-edge technology. We also offer them the unmatched support of our market-connected experts to perfectly meet their needs,” said Couture.
Lithion Technologies has developed a proprietary process to recover components from lithium-ion batteries and waste from battery production so they can be reused by battery cell and electric vehicle manufacturers. The company aims to open 25 plants across North America, Europe and Asia by 2035 through strategic partnerships and licensing agreements.
“The Lithion project fits into our Battery Industry Development Strategy, which focuses on extracting, processing, and recycling our critical minerals. This new plant builds upon Québec’s industry leadership and expertise, making our province more attractive to local and international investors,” said Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
Lithion Technologies is headquartered in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville and expects to double its workforce over the next 18 months between its two facilities.
