Cox Automotive has processed more than 10 million pounds of EV battery “black mass,” marking a milestone as the industry prepares for a growing wave of used electric vehicles, according to a company news release.
The material, recovered through the company’s EV Battery Solutions business, contains valuable minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese that can be refined and reused in new battery production.
“This milestone is proof that circularity in the EV battery ecosystem is moving from concept to scale,” said Brian Skalovsky, Director of Battery Recycling for EV Battery Solutions by Cox Automotive, in a statement.
The milestone comes as EV volumes begin to shift into the secondary market. Cox Automotive says electric vehicles accounted for about 5 per cent of lease maturities in 2025 and are expected to exceed 12 per cent in 2026, rising to roughly 23 per cent by 2028.
As a result, the need for battery diagnostics, repair and end-of-life processing is becoming more central to the automotive ecosystem. The company said recycling is one part of a broader strategy that also includes refurbishment and remanufacturing to extend battery life.
At its recycling facility in Oklahoma City, Cox uses a dry processing system designed to reduce environmental impact and improve safety by avoiding water and chemical treatments. The process can recover up to 94 per cent of battery materials for reuse.
“This is about building the infrastructure that makes electrification work in the real world,” said Lea Malloy, CP of EV Battery Solutions by Cox Automotive, in a statement.
The company said the milestone reflects a broader shift toward managing the full lifecycle of EV batteries as electrification expands.
