Ather 450X Gen 3 battery recycling in Ulsan, South Korea
The Ather 450X Gen 3 is not sold in this market, so packs reach Ulsan, South Korea through importers, research and test fleets or cross-border consolidation. They are accepted as whole packs, with extra checks on documentation and transboundary paperwork.
Pack value at 80% SOH
173 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
34,000 TPA
Integrated Recovery Campus
Cities served
2
From Ulsan, South Korea
Where a Ather 450X Gen 3 pack goes from Ulsan, South Korea
- 1
Intake at Ulsan, South Korea
Packs travel in UN-approved steel or plastic cages with non-conductive dividers, typically dozens per cage. Each pack is weighed, photographed and discharged below 30% state of charge.
- 2
Graded at Yokohama, Kanagawa
Modules travel 935 km to Yokohama — Kanagawa Diagnostics Works for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 2 modules.
- 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 (8,121 km). Good — grade-A modules above 80% SOH qualify for commercial-scale BESS strings.
- 4
Refined at Ningde, Fujian
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Ningde — Fujian Refining Base, 1,354 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | Yokohama — Kanagawa Diagnostics Works | 935 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 8,121 km |
| Nearest refinery | Ningde — Fujian Refining Base | 1,354 km |
Faster option
Inside the Ather 450X Gen 3 battery
The Ather 450X Gen 3 (2022) 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 | 95.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 233 |
| Year 4 | 91% | A — BESS ready | USD 224 |
| Year 6 | 86.7% | A — BESS ready | USD 215 |
| Year 8 | 82.4% | B — Second life | USD 187 |
| Year 10 | 78.1% | B — Second life | USD 164 |
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 450X Gen 3 pack
3.7 kWh, 2 modules, about 21 kg — this is how the Ulsan, South Korea 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
Ulsan, South Korea site notes
- Manufacturers can arrange recurring scrap collections.
- Declare chemistry and format at booking.
- Large packs need advance notice.
- Damaged units require special handling.
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 South Korea
Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles
Regulator: Ministry of Environment, with Korea Environment Corporation
The campus operates under Korean environmental permitting and national rules on waste and resource recycling, including producer responsibility schemes. Transport follows Korean dangerous goods regulations.
Ather 450X Gen 3 in Ulsan, South Korea: common questions
Can I drop off a Ather 450X Gen 3 battery at Ulsan, South Korea?
Yes, by appointment. Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus accepts whole Ather 450X Gen 3 packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Ather 450X Gen 3 modules after Ulsan, South Korea?
Intake at Ulsan, South Korea, then Graded at Yokohama, Kanagawa, then Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden, then Refined at Ningde, Fujian. At 80% SOH roughly 47% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Ather 450X Gen 3 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 450X Gen 3 recycling in South Korea?
Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles, overseen by Ministry of Environment, with Korea Environment Corporation. Transport follows national dangerous goods rules, with lithium-ion batteries packaged under UN 3480 / UN 3481.
Cities collected by Ulsan, South Korea
Ather 450X Gen 3 at other sites
Other two-wheeler packs at Ulsan, South Korea
Retiring Ather 450X Gen 3 packs near Ulsan, South Korea?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.