Japanese scientists have developed a lithium recovery process that extracts up to 90% of the mineral from used EV batteries, confirmed by multiple tech outlets. This addresses a real economic problem: battery recycling currently costs more than the recovered materials are worth, which NPR reports is stalling the circular economy for EVs. The development matters because high-recovery rates could make recycling economically viable at scale, reducing mining demand and emissions while securing supply chains for the next generation of EVs.