Swedish battery firm Northvolt said Friday it had produced its first battery cell with what it described as “100% recycled nickel, manganese and cobalt.”
In a statement, the Stockholm-headquartered company — which has attracted investment from Goldman Sachs and Volkswagen, among others — said the lithium-ion battery cell was manufactured by its recycling program, Revolt.
The cell’s nickel-manganese-cobalt cathode had been produced using metals “recovered through the recycling of battery waste.” Tests showed that performance was on a par with cells made using metals that had been freshly mined, Northvolt said.
On Friday, the business said the design of its own recycling facility would be expanded so it could recycle 125,000 tons of batteries annually.
Construction of the plant, called Revolt Ett, is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2022, with operations starting in 2023.
It will use materials from end-of-life EV batteries as well as scrap from Northvolt Ett, the company’s gigafactory, where the first battery is expected to be produced before the end of 2021. Both facilities will be located in Skellefteå, northern Sweden.
According to the company, the Revolt plant will be able to recycle materials including lithium, cobalt, manganese and nickel, supplying the gigafactory in the process.
In addition, plastics, copper and aluminum will also be recovered and “recirculated back into manufacturing flows through local third-parties.”
In a phone interview with CNBC,Emma Nehrenheim, Northvolt’s chief environmental officer, said: “Theoretically, you can, by definition, recycle any metal that you have in a battery and make a new battery out of it.”
“As a fundamental strategy, this means that when the market of EVs is mature — so, at the point where [an] equal amount of cars would enter the street as the amount of cars needing to be scrapped or sent off for recycling — you can actually, in theory, have a very, very high recycling rate … of batteries.”
“And this means that you would not be subject to a very liquid raw material market and you would also protect yourself from very high footprints,” Nehrenheim, who is also head of Revolt, said.
Northvolt’s plans come at a time when the shift to electric vehicles is beginning to gain momentum.
This week, signatories to a declaration at the COP26 climate change summit said they would “work towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emission globally by 2040, and by no later than 2035 in leading markets.”
While the U.S., China and carmakers including Volkswagen and Toyota were absent from the declaration, signatories did include the U.K., Mexican and Canadian governments and major automotive firms such as Ford, General Motors and Volvo Cars.
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As global supply chains face serious pressure due to a multitude of factors, the notion of recycling materials and developing a circular economy is starting to become an attractive proposition to some businesses, including those in the electric vehicle sector.
In March of this year, Lucien Mathieu, from the Brussels-based campaign group Transport & Environment, sought to highlight the potential of recycling in the EV industry.
In a statement on T&E’s website, he said: “Unlike today’s fossil fuel powered cars, electric car batteries are part of a circular economy loop where battery materials can be reused and recovered to produce more batteries.”
The recycling of battery materials, Mathieu argued, was crucial when it came to reducing “the pressure on primary demand for virgin materials” and limiting “the impacts raw material extraction can have on the environment and on communities.”
‘Much more local’
Northvolt’s Nehrenheim was asked about how important she felt ideas about recycling and a circular economy would be going forward.
“I think this is going to be the key driver for any new industry,” she said. “There will be no disruptive technology that can live without this and I think that in the long run … recycled materials in any industry will out compete any other.”
“Long term, it’s going to be much more profitable once the processes are established to just use a product to produce a new product,” she went on to state.
“You’re reducing dependence … on the raw material market, you have a much more sustainable source … it’s much more local.”
Hyundai’s electric SUV is more affordable than ever. After cutting lease prices again this month, you can lease the new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5, which now features a longer range and a Tesla NACS charging port, for just $179 per month.
Hyundai cuts 2025 IONIQ 5 lease prices again in June
The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is better in every way possible compared to the outgoing model. It now boasts up to 318 miles of driving range, sleek new styling both inside and out, and an NACS port, allowing you to charge at Tesla Superchargers.
Hyundai’s electric SUV remains a top seller in the US with nearly 16,000 models sold through May. After cutting lease prices again in June, Hyundai looks to draw in even more buyers.
The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range RWD is now listed at just $179 for 24 months with $3,999 due at signing. That’s a notable difference from May.
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Last month, IONIQ 5 lease prices started at $209 a month. Although that was considered one of the best EV deals, the new rate will save you $30 a month.
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited (Source: Hyundai)
The SE Standard Range trim starts at $43,975, with a driving range of up to 245 miles. However, the extended range SE model may be an even better deal. You can upgrade to the longer-range SE trim, which has up to 318 miles of range, for just $199 a month.
You can even lease the off-road XRT variant for $299 a month right now. Hyundai’s offers end on July 7 and include the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim
EV Powertrain
Driving Range (miles)
Starting Price*
Monthly lease price June 2025
IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range
168-horsepower rear motor
245
$42,500
$179
IONIQ 5 SE RWD
225-horsepower rear motor
318
$46,550
$199
IONIQ 5 SEL RWD
225-horsepower rear motor
318
$49,500
$209
IONIQ 5 Limited RWD
225-horsepower rear motor
318
$54,200
$309
IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD
320-horsepower dual motor
290
$50,050
$249
IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD
320-horsepower dual motor
290
$53,000
$259
IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor AWD
320 horsepower dual motor
259
$55,400
$359
IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD
320-horsepower dual motor
269
$58,100
$299
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 prices and range by trim (*includes $1,475 destination fee)
As an added bonus, Hyundai is still offering a free ChargePoint Level 2 home charger with the purchase or lease of a new 2025 IONIQ 5. If you already have one, you can opt for a $400 public charging credit.
With Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” calling to end federal EV incentives, including the $7,500 tax credit, many of these savings will soon dry up.
Want to check out Hyundai’s electric SUV for yourself? With leases as low as $179 per month, it’s hard to pass up right now. You can use our link to find deals on the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 in your area (trusted affiliate link).
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Canadian oil and gas pipeline giant Enbridge just launched its first solar farm in Texas, adding more clean energy to its “all-of-the-above” energy mix, mainly fossil fuels.
Enbridge’s Orange Grove Solar project in Jim Wells County now sends up to 130 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity to the Texas ERCOT grid. That’s enough to power around 24,000 homes. Roughly 300,000 solar panels stretch across 920 acres.
AT&T has signed a long-term virtual power purchase agreement for all the output from Orange Grove. That deal helps AT&T reduce its carbon footprint and stabilize long-term energy costs.
“We are pleased to be able to deliver additional zero-emission electricity into the grid in support of local and Texas state-wide economic growth and energy demand,” said Matthew Akman, Enbridge’s EVP of corporate strategy and president of its power business.
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This isn’t Enbridge’s first dip into renewables: it bought its first wind farm in 2002, and it says its renewable assets are part of its plan to achieve net zero by 2050.
But Enbridge is still ultimately best known for its oil and gas pipelines – and its troubled environmental history. In 1991, the company was responsible for the largest inland oil spill in the US, in Minnesota. It’s faced criticism for other spills and environmental risks tied to its pipeline network, which is the longest across North America and the largest oil export pipeline network in the world.
Enbridge is building a second, much larger solar farm southeast of Abilene in Callahan County. Called the Sequoia Solar project, it’s expected to generate 815 MW of power – more than six times the size of Orange Grove – making it one of the biggest solar farms in North America once it’s complete.
Both projects are part of Enbridge’s growing push into clean power, especially in Texas, where demand for electricity in the ERCOT market keeps climbing. It’s a notable shift for a company still deeply rooted in fossil fuels without plans to abandon them. But it’s now tapping into the sun as part of its evolving energy portfolio.
Akman continued, “Enbridge is proud to operate a wide range of critical energy infrastructure across the Gulf Coast area, including liquids pipelines and export facilities, natural gas pipelines and storage, as well as wind and now solar power.”
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Kia’s new entry-level EV was spotted driving in the US with its official launch just around the corner. The EV4 is Kia’s first electric sedan, and in real life, it looks even better.
Kia EV4 spotted in real life on US streets
We’ve been waiting since Kia’s first annual EV day in 2023, when we first saw the concept for the electric sedan, to finally arrive. The EV4 is part of the brand’s new lineup of entry-level electric vehicles, alongside the EV2, EV3, and EV5.
After opening EV4 pre-orders in Korea earlier this year, Kia is preparing to launch it globally. The electric car starts at about $30,000 (41.92 million won) in its home market.
Similar to Korea, the EV4 will be offered in the US with two battery options: 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh. The entry-level “Light” trim will come with a standard 58.3 kWh battery, which Kia estimates will provide a range of 235 miles.
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The Wind and GT-Line trims will be available with the long-range 81.4 kWh battery, providing up to 330 miles of range.
2026 Kia EV4 (Source: Kia)
Kia says the EV4’s sports car-like design contributed to its impressive driving range. With a drag coefficient of just 0.23, the EV4 is Kia’s most aerodynamic vehicle yet.
It will also come with a built-in NACS port on the front passenger side for charging at Tesla Superchargers. With DC fast charging, the EV4 can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes (Light battery). The long-range (81.4 kWh) battery will take around 31 minutes.
2026 Kia EV4 electric sedan (Source: Kia)
The EV4 was recently spotted driving in the US ahead of its official launch, giving us a better idea of what Kia’s electric sedan looks like in real life.
The video, courtesy of KindelAuto, shows the EV4 with Michigan plates on public roads. You can see it’s not your average four-door sedan. Kia calls it an “entirely new type of EV sedan” with a wide, low stance.
2026 Kia EV6 spotted driving in the US ahead of upcoming launch (Source: KindelAuto)
Kia’s new “EV Tiger Face” design is showcased up front, featuring vertical headlights and its signature Star Map lighting.
The interior will feature nearly 30″ of screen space as part of Kia’s new connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system.
Kia EV4 GT-Line interior (Source: Kia)
The setup includes dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens, plus a 5″ climate screen. It also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
Kia will launch the EV4 in Europe later this year and in the US in early 2026. We will learn prices closer to when it arrives, but Kia’s electric sedan is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
We also got a look at the upcoming EV4 GT this week, after it was spotted outside Kia and Hyundai’s facility in Korea.
What do you think about Kia’s first electric sedan? Would you buy one for around $35,000? Let us know in the comments.
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