World first prototype battery tear down facility

Discover the future of battery manufacturing at MTC

With over 1.5 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) already on UK roads—and government mandates accelerating adoption—the UK faces a coming surge in end-of-life (EoL) batteries. By 2035, more than one EV battery pack will need to be processed and recycled every minute, rising to one every 15 seconds by 2045. Manual disassembly is simply too slow, hazardous, and costly to meet this demand, making automation not just an advantage, but a necessity.

To meet this challenge, we’re excited to introduce the world’s first prototype battery tear-down facility—a cutting-edge environment designed to drive the future of battery innovation in the UK. Bridging a critical gap in high-risk R&D, this state-of-the-art space combines advanced robotics, machine vision, and laser systems to enable safe, fully remote manufacturing research. From prototype battery assembly to automated disassembly for critical material recovery, HazOps supports the UK’s electrification strategy and the development of a truly circular battery supply chain.

A game-changer for battery processing

This facility is built around a modular, reconfigurable cell inspired by the Factory in a Box (FiaB) concept. Housed within an agile ISO container footprint, it integrates advanced robotics, machine vision, and laser systems to deliver fully remote, high-risk research and production. This unique setup enables:

AI-driven disassembly
Flexible, modular design
Advanced safety systems
Data & traceability
Production-intent prototyping
Advanced testing & diagnostics

AI-driven disassembly

Automated path planning, machine vision-led motion, and dexterous gripping for safe, efficient battery pack disassembly—regardless of complexity or manufacturer.

Supporting the circular economy

The battery tear down facility is designed to maximise the value retained from every battery. By enabling repair, remanufacture, and repurposing, it helps keep batteries in use for longer, reducing waste and supporting the UK’s net-zero ambitions. Only when a battery can no longer be reused is it recycled, ensuring compliance with new EU and UK regulations on recycled content and supporting a truly circular battery supply chain.

Mickey Croizer, Chief Engineer - MTC

Collaboration and impact

Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and HVM Catapult, this facility is a collaborative platform open to industry, academia, and innovators.

The selected partners each bring specific expertise to complement the planning, design, build, and operation of the hazardous operations cell alongside the MTC team: