Recyclable Solid-State Battery EcoVolt Enters Mass Production: 500Wh/kg Energy Density with 95%+ Material Recovery

Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt today held a mass production launch ceremony for EcoVolt at its Skelleftea gigafactory. EcoVolt is the worlds first solid-state battery product designed from the outset with full-lifecycle material recovery in mind, achieving 500Wh/kg energy density while enabling recovery of over 95% of critical materials upon retirement.

Technical Breakthrough

EcoVolt uses Northvolts proprietary sulfide solid-state electrolyte system with a high-nickel NMC cathode (90% Ni) and lithium metal anode. The 500Wh/kg energy density is double that of mainstream liquid lithium batteries, meaning the same weight provides twice the driving range.

The true innovation lies in its disassemblable design. Traditional solid-state batteries sinter layers tightly together, making separation extremely difficult upon retirement. EcoVolt uses a modular stacked structure with layers connected by a dissolvable thermosensitive adhesive. During recycling, simply soaking the battery in solvent at a specific temperature causes automatic layer separation.

Northvolts recycling technology director Fredrik Anderson said the recycling process works in existing battery recycling facilities without new equipment investment. Per-ton recycling costs approximately 1,200 euros, while recovered lithium, nickel, and cobalt materials have a market value of approximately 8,500 euros, making it economically viable.

First Customers

The first 100,000 EcoVolt cells have rolled off the production line. Volvo Cars is the first confirmed customer, using EcoVolt in its 2031 flagship electric SUV. Tesla has signed a letter of intent for testing in select 2031 models. Individual EcoVolt cells (120Wh capacity) are priced at $180, matching current liquid lithium battery prices, expected to drop to $140 by late 2031.