7 months ago
India's EV Battery Recycling Moment Arrives
India is seeing a lot of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road, and as these vehicles get older, their batteries are reaching the end of their life.
This is creating a big opportunity for battery recycling and second-life applications.
Companies like Attero and BatX Energies are preparing to handle these old batteries by recycling them to recover valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
The Indian government has rules that make manufacturers responsible for managing their products' lifecycles, which helps support this recycling effort.
Recycling these batteries is important because it can help reduce dependence on imported materials and make the EV industry more sustainable.
However, the success of this effort will depend on how well these rules are enforced and how well companies can manage the costs and risks involved.
India's EV market is growing rapidly with high monthly sales of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers.
The first large wave of retired EV batteries is approaching, creating a significant opportunity for battery recycling and second-life applications.
Companies like Attero and BatX Energies are scaling up their recycling capacities to handle the increasing volumes of end-of-life batteries.
The Indian government's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework plays a crucial role in stabilizing margins for recyclers.
Recycling EV batteries is important for reducing dependence on imported materials and addressing geopolitical risks.
- Who
- India's EV battery recycling and second-life energy storage companies, including Attero and BatX Energies
- What
- The rise of EV battery recycling and second-life applications as India's early-generation EVs reach the end of their usable life
- Where
- India
- When
- The first large wave of retired EV batteries is approaching, with monthly EV sales already high
- Why
- To manage the increasing volumes of end-of-life EV batteries and to address geopolitical risks and supply chain issues for critical minerals
Key facts
- EV Sales
- 1.4 lakh electric two-wheelers, 17,000–18,000 electric three-wheelers, 15,000–16,000 electric four-wheelers monthly
- Recycling Market Growth
- Expected to expand nearly ten-fold by 2030
- Attero's Recycling Capacity
- 17,500 tonnes currently, scaling to 60,000 tonnes
- Materials Recovered
- Lithium carbonate, cobalt, nickel, manganese sulphate, graphite
- EPR Framework
- Makes manufacturers accountable for managing products across their lifecycle
- Geopolitical Risks
- Supply and geopolitical risks for lithium, cobalt, nickel
- Second-life Applications
- Stationary storage for telecom or renewables
- Publication Date
- January 6, 2026
Quotes
Utkarsh Singh
Chief Executive of BatX Energies
“Volumes will ramp up first from two-wheelers, given India’s massive two-wheeler base and the suitability of EVs for daily-use and gig-economy applications.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“EPR enforcement can add about 6–7 per cent to EBITDA, which meaningfully supports scale-up.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Nitin Gupta
Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Attero
“On the lithium-ion battery side, our current capacity is 17,500 tonnes, which we are scaling up to 60,000 tonnes, as end-of-life volumes are increasing every quarter.”
thehindubusinessline.com
