Ascend Elements Announces TDK Ventures as 2025 Partner of the Year
Ascend Elements Announces TDK Ventures as 2025 Partner of the Year Strategic, long-term partner recognized for advancing Ascend Elements’ growth, global expansion, and leadership in forging a local critical mineral refining strategy in 2025 WESTBOROUGH, MASS. — February 17, 2026 — Ascend Elements, the global leader in circular battery materials, today announced that TDK Ventures […]
Ascend Elements Closes 2025 with Strong Business Momentum and Commercial Scale Production of Critical Minerals for Battery Production
Company offers global battery producers a proven, domestic pathway to circular battery materials WESTBOROUGH, MASS. — December 18, 2025 — Ascend Elements, the global leader in circular battery materials, today announced a series of year-end milestones that cap a transformational 2025 and position the company for accelerated growth through 2026 and beyond. Ascend Elements stands […]
Ascend Elements Announces Multi-Year Offtake Agreement for Recycled Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate with Trafigura
Ascend Elements Announces Multi‑Year Offtake Agreement for Recycled Battery‑Grade Lithium Carbonate with Trafigura Partnership pairs Ascend Elements’ Hydro‑to‑Cathode® technology with Trafigura’s global marketing and logistics platform to accelerate a resilient battery materials supply chain WESTBOROUGH, Mass., (November 12, 2025) Ascend Elements, a leader in engineered battery materials and lithium‑ion recycling, today announces a multi‑year offtake […]
Barbara Knight Named Chief Administrative Officer at Ascend Elements
Westborough, Mass. (September 4, 2025) Ascend Elements has appointed Barbara B. Knight to the position of Chief Administrative Officer. In this role, she will oversee the company’s marketing, communications, and human resources functions. She serves on the company’s Executive Leadership Team and reports to CEO Linh Austin. “Barbara is a proven leader with significant experience […]
Ascend Elements Produces Recycled Lithium Carbonate from Used Li-ion Batteries for First Time at Commercial Scale
Company Plans to Produce More than 15 Kilotons of Recycled Lithium Carbonate Annually in the United States and Europe by 2027 COVINGTON, Ga., (September 3, 2025) Ascend Elements achieved a significant milestone in domestic critical minerals recovery last month – producing >99% pure, recycled lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) from black mass for the first time at […]
Deacon Powell Named General Counsel at Ascend Elements
Westborough, Mass. (July 2, 2025) Ascend Elements recently appointed Deacon Powell to the position of General Counsel. He serves on the company’s Executive Leadership Team and reports to CEO Linh Austin. “We are excited to have Deacon join the Ascend Elements team. His broad, 25-year experience in the energy industry and deep expertise in projects […]
Ascend Elements Publishes Annual Sustainability Report for 2024
Ascend Elements was founded in 2015. Our co-founders discovered a new way to recycle lithium-ion batteries and return critical battery metals to the domestic supply chain. Our patented Hydro-to Cathode® direct precursor synthesis technology was purpose built for environmental and economic sustainability. Today, as we commercialize this innovative technology, we’re expanding our sustainability efforts to […]
Republic of Poland Offers Ascend Elements Up to USD $320 Million to Support Construction of Lithium-ion Battery Materials Plant in Poland
Cash subsidy valued at up to 1.22 billion PLN is one of the largest grants ever offered by Poland’s Ministry of Economic Development and Technology Warsaw, Poland, (7 May, 2025) — The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology in Poland today offered Ascend Elements up to USD $320 million to support construction of a precursor […]
New Study: Ascend Elements’ Hydro-to-Cathode® pCAM Process
An independently reviewed Life Cycle Assessment of Ascend Elements’ NMC 9.5.5 pCAM product WESTBOROUGH, Mass., (April 22, 2025) — An independently reviewed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) published today finds Ascend Elements’ innovative Hydro-to-Cathode® direct pCAM synthesis process is significantly cleaner than traditional battery recycling methods – producing 49% lower carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions and […]
Ascend Elements Board of Directors Appoints Seasoned Energy Industry Executive Linh Austin to Serve as President and CEO
U.S.-based lithium-ion battery materials company is evolving from a R&D startup to commercial-scale manufacturer of domestic battery materials WESTBOROUGH, Mass., (March 20, 2025)— Ascend Elements, a vertically integrated battery materials company, today announced the appointment of Linh Austin to serve as the Company’s new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Linh Austin has been a […]
Ascend Elements and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Mutually Agree to Cancel $164M Cathode Active Material (CAM) Grant
A separate $316M U.S. DOE grant to Ascend Elements for pCAM infrastructure remains active to help fund construction of the Apex 1 project in Hopkinsville, KY. HOPKINSVILLE, KY., (February 27, 2025) — Due to changing market conditions, Ascend Elements and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have mutually agreed to cancel a $164 million grant […]
Ascend Elements to Increase U.S. Production of Lithium Carbonate By 60% With Start of New Lithium Recovery Line in 2025
New Lithium Recovery Line at Covington, Ga. Battery Recycling Facility to Produce Up to 3,000 Metric Tons of Lithium Carbonate (Li2CO3) Annually COVINGTON, Ga., (December 10, 2024) — Ascend Elements, a vertically integrated battery materials company, will begin producing >99% pure lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) recovered from used lithium-ion batteries at its facility in Covington, Ga. […]
Advanced Graphite Recycling: Ascend Elements and Orbia Selected for $125 Million Cost-Sharing Grant from U.S. Department of Energy
Federal funds to support construction of U.S. infrastructure for the recovery and purification of graphite from used lithium-ion batteries. Ascend Elements and Koura Global, an Orbia company, were selected Friday to receive a $125 million cost-sharing grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains. The grant is part of […]
AE Elemental Opens Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Facility in Poland
EV battery industry leaders and local officials joined Elemental Strategic Metals and Ascend Elements in Zawiercie, Poland to celebrate the grand opening of Europe’s newest lithium-ion battery recycling facility. WESTBOROUGH, Mass., USA and ZAWIERCIE, Poland (19 September, 2024) — AE Elemental, a joint venture of U.S.-based Ascend Elements and Poland-based Elemental Strategic Metals, today celebrated […]
New Visions of Our Apex 1 Campus
As construction of America’s first commercial-scale pCAM manufacturing plant continues, our engineers and artists are re-imagining the future state of the 150-acre campus.
Ascend Elements EV Battery Recycling Facility Certified to ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management Standard by DQS Inc.
DQS Inc., an independent certification body, recently certified Ascend Elements’ electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling facility in Covington, Ga. to the ISO 9001:2015 standard for Quality Management Systems.
2024 Recycler of the Year: Ascend Elements Receives Top Honor at Fastmarkets Voltas Awards
Ascend Elements won the “Recycler of the Year” award at the inaugural Fastmarkets Voltas Awards on June 25 in Las Vegas. The Voltas Awards recognize and celebrate pioneering companies, leaders and innovators who have demonstrated excellence
Ascend Elements Pioneers U.S. Battery Materials Industry with Recycled Cathode Materials
In a milestone for the U.S. battery materials industry, Ascend Elements recently shipped decarbonized cathode materials to Freudenberg e-Power Systems, one of the world’s leading suppliers of emissions-neutral energy solutions for heavy-duty applications.
The Boston Globe Names Ascend Elements Co-Founders to Tech Power Players 50
Ascend Elements co-founders Eric Gratz, Ph.D. and Yan Wang, Ph.D. have been named to the third annual Tech Power Players 50, a list of the most influential – and interesting – people in the New England technology scene, as ranked by The Boston Globe’s business journalists and an
external advisory.
Call2Recycle and Ascend Elements Formalize Agreement to Offer Customized EV Battery Management, Logistics and Recycling Services
A new agreement between Ascend Elements and Call2Recycle will bring customized electric vehicle (EV) battery management, logistics and recycling services to automotive dealerships, recyclers, and repair facilities.
Ascend Elements Launches Logistics Simulation at America’s First EV Battery Materials (pCAM) Manufacturing Facility
Ascend Elements recently selected EY US to develop a complex logistics simulation model for its 1 million-square-foot Apex 1 EV battery materials (pCAM) manufacturing facility currently under construction in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Gov. Maura Healey Visits Ascend Elements R&D Center to Tout New Climate Tech Initiative in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao visited the Ascend Elements R&D Center in Westborough, Mass. on April 16.
Ascend Elements and Elemental Strategic Metals Establish AE Elemental, an Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling JV in Poland
New joint venture will own and operate an advanced Li-ion EV battery recycling facility in Zawiercie, Poland, with another planned in central Germany.
Ascend Elements Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024
For the second year in a row, Ascend Elements has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies.
Ascend Elements Raises Additional $162 Million to Build Lithium-Ion Battery Materials in United States
Ascend Elements today announced it has raised $162 million in new equity investments. Latest funding adds to the company’s recent $542 million equity round for a 12-month funding total of $704 million
Ascend Elements Celebrates Construction Milestone at America’s First EV Battery Cathode Precursor (pCAM) Manufacturing Facility
Ascend Elements team members and partners in Hopkinsville, Ky. celebrated a major milestone in the construction of North America’s first electric vehicle battery cathode precursor (pCAM) manufacturing facility this week.
New Survey: Americans are Increasingly Concerned about Electric Vehicle Battery Disposal, Despite Growth of EV Battery Recycling Industry
As the electric vehicle (EV) market continues to grow in the United States, Americans are increasingly concerned about what will happen to all those lithium-ion EV batteries when they reach end of life – even though the EV battery recycling industry is booming.
Advanced Graphite Recycling Technology Provides an Alternative to Virgin Graphite from China
China is a graphite powerhouse, but a new graphite recycling technology promises to give the West an alternate source of battery-grade anode material – one that performs just as well as virgin graphite.
Orbia’s Koura and Ascend Elements to Explore Joint Commercialization of Advanced Graphite Recycling Technology in the United States
Patented Hydro-to-Anode® Graphite Recycling Technology Produces 99.9% Pure Graphite from Used Lithium-ion Batteries WESTBOROUGH, Mass., (October 17, 2023) — Ascend Elements, a U.S.-based manufacturer of sustainable battery materials, and Orbia’s Fluorinated Solutions business, Koura, one of the world’s largest producers of fluoroproducts and technologies, today agreed to explore joint commercialization of the patented Hydro-to-Anode® graphite […]
Ascend Elements Raises $542 Million to Accelerate Production of U.S.-engineered Lithium-Ion Battery Materials
Latest funding round is one of the largest U.S. cleantech equity private placements of 2023 to date.
Ascend Elements to Supply Sustainable Cathode Precursor (pCAM) Made from Recycled Battery Materials to Major U.S. Customer
Up to $5 billion deal signals a shift in worldwide battery material supply chains as Ascend Elements builds one of North America’s first commercial-scale NMC pCAM manufacturing facilities in southwest Kentucky.
Ascend Elements’ Innovative Battery Recycling Technology Recognized in Fast Company’s 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards
Ascend Elements’ Hydro-to-Cathode® direct precursor synthesis technology was recognized by Fast Company as one of North America’s top 20 World Changing Ideas for 2023.
Ascend Elements to Supply Up to 5,000 Metric Tons of Recycled Lithium Carbonate Annually to Koura, Orbia’s Fluorinated Solutions Business
Ascend Elements to supply Koura Global with up to 5,000 metric tons of recycled lithium carbonate per year for new electric vehicle batteries.
Ascend Elements Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2023
Ascend Elements has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2023. The company is ranked No. 3 in the Energy and Sustainability category.
Ascend Elements Secures $300 Million in Funding
Ascend Elements, a U.S.-based engineered materials and lithium-ion battery recycling company, today announced it has secured $300 million in equity and debt financing, including $200 million in Series C equity investments from an international group of strategic and financial investors.
Ascend Elements Begins Construction of Apex 1 in Southwestern Kentucky
Ascend Elements began construction of its largest electric vehicle battery recycling and engineered materials manufacturing facility with a ceremonial groundbreaking today. Leaders of the fast-growing startup were joined by Gov. Andy Beshear, local business and community leaders, and EV battery industry executives during the midday
Ascend Elements Awarded $480M in Grants from U.S. Department of Energy to Manufacture Battery Cathode Active Materials
Ascend Elements announced today that it has been awarded grants from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Initiative. The awards, totaling $480M in matching funds
Ascend Elements and EcoPro Group Collaborate to Supply Recycled Battery Materials to North American EV Industry
Ascend Elements and EcoPro Group today announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreement to cooperate in the development, qualification, and integration of recycled battery materials into EcoPro’s cathode products. The agreement paves way for a sustainable, closed-loop supply of domestic lithium-ion battery materials in the United States.
Introducing Base 1: Ascend Elements’ First Commercial-scale EV Battery Recycling Facility
Take a look inside Base 1, Ascend Elements’ first commercial-scale EV battery recycling facility in Covington, Georgia. When fully operational in Q4 2022, the facility will recycle 30,000 metric tons of lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap a year. That’s about 70,000 electric vehicle batteries per year
The Wall Street Journal: Ascend Elements raises more than $300 million, as cash pours into battery recycling companies
Jaguar Land Rover and South Korean conglomerate SK Group are among the investors putting more than $300 million into Ascend Elements, a startup that aims to serve an emerging center of battery production in the Southeastern U.S.
Ascend Elements to Invest up to $1 billion in Southwest Kentucky EV Battery Materials Manufacturing Facility
Ascend Elements today announced plans to invest up to $1 billion to build a sustainable lithium-ion battery materials facility in Hopkinsville, Ky.,
Ascend Elements to Recycle Lithium-ion Battery Manufacturing Scrap for SK Battery America
Ascend Elements’ Covington, Georgia facility will recover 98% of battery materials and return critical elements to the battery supply chain.