The Future is NEUTRAL extends its AutoLOOP
digital platform to the collection of electric vehicle batteries

  • Developed by The Future is NEUTRAL and operational since early 2025, AutoLOOP is a digital platform for collecting recyclable materials: polypropylene, copper, platinum group metals, aluminium, etc.
  • NEUTRAL is now expanding this platform to collect electric vehicle traction batteries, which contain strategic metals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel.
  • AutoLOOP thus becomes a single platform for managing the recycling of materials and batteries, designed for all end-of-life vehicle (ELV) centres: a competitive solution, rigorous traceability and immediate implementation.
  • AutoLOOP enables compliance with the new European Extended Producer Responsibility regulation, which, from August 2025, requires automotive manufacturers to finance the collection, ensure traceability and actively contribute to the recycling of electric vehicle traction batteries.

“Professionalisation and digitalisation of materials and battery collection: that is our purpose. AutoLOOP is a unique platform designed to improve the recovery of end-of-life vehicles, ensuring simplicity, competitiveness and traceability.”

Antoine Chéreau, Business Developer – The Future is NEUTRAL

AutoLOOP: how does it work?

  • ELV centres collect end-of-life vehicles, whether they are petrol, diesel, electric or hybrid, as is the case with the INDRA AUTOMOBILE RECYCLING network, the leading ELV processing company in France.
  • ELV centres deregister, secure and decontaminate them: removal of traction batteries, extraction of fluids, heavy metals and refrigerant gases, and neutralisation of pyrotechnic components (airbags or pretensioners).
    The ELV centre submits a collection request via AutoLOOP for batteries from client brands (Individual System or eco-organisations that have chosen AutoLOOP for the collection of their batteries).
  • The ELV centre dismantles the vehicle and extracts parts for reuse and parts for material recycling.
    Parts intended for recycling are grouped into batches. For example, bumpers from ELVs (which cannot be reused as spare parts) are placed in containers. Once a minimum volume is reached – primarily to optimise transport costs – the ELV centre can offer its batch for sale on AutoLOOP.
  • To do this, on the AutoLOOP platform, the ELV centre records the characteristics of the batches of parts and each battery:
    • Batches of parts: type, quality, packaging, weight or total quantity, etc.
      Once the quantity, quality and price have been agreed, the platform arranges collection and transport, as well as invoicing.
    • Battery: battery type, Battery Identification Number and Vehicle Identification Number (BIN and VIN), battery status, any damage, photos, etc.
      Following analysis, the platform arranges the supply of specific battery packaging and its transport to specialised facilities operated by NEUTRAL and its partners, where it is unloaded, dismantled and recycled in accordance with the objectives of European regulatory requirements.
    • AutoLOOP complies with the requirements for closed-loop battery recycling, ensuring that strategic metals are recovered for reuse in new batteries.

AutoLOOP and material recycling

AutoLOOP and battery recycling

Definitions

  • Polypropylene: a major family of plastics, commonly found in a vehicle’s bumpers.
  • Copper: found in wiring harnesses, electric motors and traction batteries.
  • Platinum Group Metals (PGM): rhodium, palladium and platinum, found in catalytic converters.
  • Aluminium: commonly found in body panels (bonnet, fenders, doors, tailgates), cast components (wheels, engine or gearbox housings) and traction batteries.
  • Cobalt, lithium, nickel: commonly found in the batteries of electric or hybrid vehicles.
  • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Extended Producer Responsibility engages manufacturers, distributors and importers in a circular economy approach. They help to extend the life of products and reduce waste by incorporating eco-design, repair, reuse and recycling. Since August 2025, EPR has extended producers’ responsibility to the management and financing of the end-of-life of traction batteries.
  • Eco-organisation: a collective body approved by the State that takes charge, on behalf of its members, of all obligations related to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
  • Individual System: is a customised but more demanding option. It allows the manufacturer to fulfil its obligations without going through an eco-organisation. This approach is best suited to companies that are able to manage the supply chain from start to finish and wish to secure their own supply of recycled material in anticipation of future regulatory requirements.

DOCUMENTS

Press release

download (PDF, 451ko)

THIS CONTENT
MAY INTEREST YOU

Photos

INDRA – Electric vehicle battery

Grégoire de Franqueville
Press releases

Grégoire de Franqueville is appointed CEO of The Future is NEUTRAL

Innovation, at the heart of the automotive circular economy
Articles

Innovation, at the heart of the automotive circular economy

Share on