Hydrovolt, Ragn-Sells Sign Three-Year Deal to Streamline EV Battery Collection in Sweden

Hydrovolt has signed a three-year cooperation agreement with Ragn-Sells to manage the collection, storage and cross-border transport of end-of-life electric vehicle batteries in Sweden, the companies said, positioning themselves to capture rising volumes from the country’s growing EV fleet.

The arrangement targets nationwide coverage. Ragn-Sells, one of Sweden’s largest recycling operators, will coordinate pick-up from authorized collection points and consolidate shipments for export to Hydrovolt’s recycling plant in Fredrikstad, Norway. The partners said the model is designed to ensure safe handling of high-energy batteries and compliance with transport and environmental standards.

Sweden has one of the highest electric vehicle penetration rates in Europe, driven by policy incentives and expanding charging infrastructure. As first-generation EVs reach retirement age, analysts say the volume of traction batteries entering the waste stream will accelerate over the coming decade. Industry observers note that efficient reverse logistics is emerging as a bottleneck in battery recycling, given fire risks, hazardous material rules and the need for specialized packaging and storage.

Hydrovolt, a battery recycling company backed by Nordic industrial interests, operates a hydrometallurgical processing facility in Fredrikstad capable of recovering black mass and key materials for reuse in new batteries. By centralizing Swedish volumes through Ragn-Sells’ export hubs, the companies aim to reduce fragmentation in collection and improve traceability.

Under the agreement, Ragn-Sells will provide logistics services covering interim storage, classification and transport documentation before cross-border shipment. The batteries will then be processed at Hydrovolt’s Norwegian facility, where metals including nickel, cobalt and lithium can be extracted for reintroduction into the battery supply chain. Observers say cross-border cooperation is increasingly common in the Nordics, where market scale often favors regional rather than single-country treatment capacity.

Hans Bjerkaas, Hydrovolt’s chief commercial and development officer, said the partnership is intended to establish a leading service platform for high-energy battery handling in Sweden. Thomas Kahlqvist, business project manager at Ragn-Sells, described the deal as a step toward strengthening a circular battery value chain.

Industry groups argue that such partnerships will be critical as the European Union tightens battery regulation, including requirements on collection rates, recycled content and due diligence. Sweden’s established waste management infrastructure provides a foundation, but analysts say coordination between recyclers, automakers and logistics providers will determine how efficiently end-of-life batteries are recovered.

The companies did not disclose financial terms. The agreement runs for three years, with an option for further collaboration as battery volumes increase.

Source: Hydrovolt

SUNSHINE Spotlight: A new three-year partnership aims to build nationwide logistics for Sweden’s end-of-life EV batteries, reinforcing the Nordic push toward a closed-loop battery chain.