COVINGTON, GA — A metro Atlanta battery recycling facility is set to become the first in the country to recover a key material needed for the production of EV batteries.

Ascend Elements in Covington says it will produce up to 3,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually starting in 2025.

“This is the first new, domestic source of lithium carbonate in the 21st Century,” said Eric Gratz, co-founder and CTO of Ascend Elements. “This new domestic supply of a critical battery material will help U.S. industries meet growing demand while avoiding the possibility of tariffs on imported materials.”

Tom Fray with Ascend Elements says the only other source of lithium carbonate in the country is a Nevada mining operation. The company says it will help the US meet growing demand and domestic production of electric vehicles. He says their operations will increase domestic production by 60 percent.