Ather 450 Apex battery recycling in Fremont, California
Fremont, California is a diagnostics site: Ather 450 Apex packs arrive here from intake yards for module-level capacity, resistance and impedance testing, which decides reuse or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
173 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
24,000 TPA
Cell Grading & Diagnostics
Cities served
0
From Fremont, California
Where a Ather 450 Apex pack goes from Fremont, California
- 1
Collected via Dallas, Texas
Whole packs enter the network at Dallas — Texas Reverse Logistics Yard, 2,343 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Module grading at Fremont, California
All 2 modules are tested for capacity, DC resistance and impedance, then assigned grade A to D.
- 3
Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden
At 80% SOH about 47% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus (8,586 km). Good — grade-A modules above 80% SOH qualify for commercial-scale BESS strings.
- 4
Refined at Reno, Nevada
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Reno — Nevada Hydrometallurgy Refinery, 291 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Dallas — Texas Reverse Logistics Yard | 2,343 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 8,586 km |
| Nearest refinery | Reno — Nevada Hydrometallurgy Refinery | 291 km |
Faster option
Inside the Ather 450 Apex battery
The Ather 450 Apex (2024) carries a 3.7 kWh NMC 811 Cylindrical 2170 pack with 2 modules at 52 V, weighing roughly 21 kg. High-nickel cylindrical cells with the strongest hydrometallurgical recovery credit per tonne of black mass.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 94.5% | A — BESS ready | USD 231 |
| Year 4 | 90.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 222 |
| Year 6 | 85.9% | A — BESS ready | USD 210 |
| Year 8 | 81.6% | B — Second life | USD 182 |
| Year 10 | 77.3% | B — Second life | USD 160 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
NMC 811 loses capacity through a mix of SEI growth, cathode surface reconstruction and micro-cracking of nickel-rich particles. Resistance climbs faster than in LFP, which matters as much as capacity for second-life duty.
Thermal behaviour
High-nickel NMC cathodes release oxygen as they decompose, so once runaway starts it is fast and energetic. Cylindrical 2170 cells vent through a designed rupture point, which helps, but cell-to-cell propagation inside a tightly packed module is the main hazard.
Handling NMC 811 (2170)
Collecting a Ather 450 Apex pack
3.7 kWh, 2 modules, about 21 kg — this is how the Fremont, California team plans the job.
Removal
Removable packs are unclipped by hand; fixed packs are removed at the dealer bench with the frame supported.
Packaging
Packs travel in UN-approved steel or plastic cages with non-conductive dividers, typically dozens per cage.
Consolidation
Dealer and swap-station returns are aggregated at a single point so one collection clears many units.
Before the truck arrives
- Tape terminals and connectors on every pack
- Separate swollen or dropped packs into their own container
- Record serials in a single list per cage
- Store below 30% charge away from charging racks
Fremont, California site notes
- Experimental cells must be declared with chemistry and any known hazards.
- Dismantlers should remove and secure packs before the collection vehicle arrives.
- Include VINs or serial numbers to support California record-keeping.
- Damaged packs require advance notice and ship under separate paperwork.
What this pack yields
lithium
0.21 kg
nickel
1.36 kg
cobalt
0.17 kg
manganese
0.16 kg
copper
0.67 kg
aluminium
0.57 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in United States
EPA universal waste rules, DOT hazardous materials regulations and state programmes
Regulator: EPA, DOT PHMSA and state environmental agencies
The works operates under California's demanding hazardous-waste regime, overseen by the Department of Toxic Substances Control, alongside local permitting. California has also legislated towards producer responsibility for EV batteries, so records are kept in a form that supports evolving requirements. Transport follows US DOT hazardous materials rules.
Ather 450 Apex in Fremont, California: common questions
Can I drop off a Ather 450 Apex battery at Fremont, California?
Fremont, California is a cell grading & diagnostics and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Dallas, Texas, 2,343 km away.
What happens to Ather 450 Apex modules after Fremont, California?
Collected via Dallas, Texas, then Module grading at Fremont, California, then Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden, then Refined at Reno, Nevada. At 80% SOH roughly 47% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Ather 450 Apex pack be prepared for pickup?
Tape terminals and connectors on every pack. Separate swollen or dropped packs into their own container. Record serials in a single list per cage. Store below 30% charge away from charging racks.
Which rules apply to Ather 450 Apex recycling in United States?
EPA universal waste rules, DOT hazardous materials regulations and state programmes, overseen by EPA, DOT PHMSA and state environmental agencies. Shipments follow DOT PHMSA 49 CFR requirements, with damaged or defective batteries under stricter special permits and packaging.
Ather 450 Apex at other sites
Other two-wheeler packs at Fremont, California
Retiring Ather 450 Apex packs near Fremont, California?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.