Members of the WPI community are encouraged to vote for Yan Wang, William Smith Foundation Dean's professor of mechanical engineering, in the Better World Awards, for his work in Lithium-ion battery recycling. He and his team are one of three finalists in this competition from 65 submissions spanning seven countries.
Since 2012, Professor Wang has partnered with WPI’s Office of Technology Commercialization for his work in battery recycling and upcycling. Recycling batteries lessens the environmental impact of manufacturing, aids in the United States’ energy independence, and saves valuable resources. These “upcycled” batteries are also shown to produce 83% more power than an original Lithium-ion battery.
Through WPI’s licensing and investment from the university’s Commercialization Fund, Wang and his post doc, Eric Gratz, formed Battery Resourcers, with a team processing 50kg of batteries per day. Today, the company, now called Ascend Elements, has raised more than $90 million, with WPI licensing six different patents with the company (three pending and three issued). The company will open North America’s largest battery recycling facility in Georgia this coming August, with plans to open more plants in the US, UK, and Europe.
Cast your vote. Results will be announced on February 23 at the Association of University Technology Manager’s meeting.
Read more about Professor Wang's work here.
