Tech gets $8 million to research battery recycling

MARQUETTE — Michigan Tech University is receiving more than $8 million of federal infrastructure funding to develop technologies and processes to recycle and reuse batteries from electric vehicles. The funding was awarded as part of a bipartisan initiative from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The funding aims to smooth over supply chain issues and help the U.S. produce more batteries domestically.

“Michigan is a global leader in automotive innovation and developing advanced technologies, thanks in part to work being done at institutions like Michigan Tech,” said U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills, chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports, in a press release. “This federal investment will help give Michigan Tech more resources to develop the technologies needed to recycle and reuse electric vehicle batteries and their materials — which will be absolutely critical to strengthening electric vehicle supply chains nationwide and the future of our automotive sector in Michigan.”

Peters, along with Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, were both heavily involved with the bipartisan infrastructure bill which provides the funding, estimated at $8.1 million in total.

“Michigan workers are the best in the world and Michigan Tech is home to some of the brightest engineering minds,” Stabenow said in the release. “This funding not only recognizes Michigan Tech’s world- class leadership in science and technology, but helps keep jobs in America and positions our state to lead the way on cutting-edge battery recycling.”

In the past two years, more than 1.2 million electric vehicles have been sold in the United States and a projected rise of more than 4,000% will greatly increase the demand for EV batteries.

“This robust investment will support Michigan Tech’s researchers, faculty and students’ continued efforts to develop and deploy the next generation of technologies to recycle electric vehicle batteries that will guide the future of the auto industry in Michigan and nationwide,” said MTU President Rick Koubek.