Ascend Elements, a manufacturer of advanced battery materials, and Elemental Strategic Metals, a recycling powerhouse, agreed to form AE Elemental, an electric vehicle battery recycling joint venture. Financial terms were not disclosed. “The AE Elemental JV is a significant milestone for Ascend Elements, representing our first commercial-scale battery recycling facility in Europe. We’re pleased to be working closely with Elemental Strategic Metals. Expanding into Europe will allow us to better service our customers locally and help the industry comply with new EU rules requiring recycled material in new batteries. This is a perfect time to expand our operations," Mike O’Kronley, Ascend Elements CEO.