Ather Rizta Z battery recycling in Lyon, France
Lyon, France does not take whole packs. It receives black mass made from Ather Rizta Z modules that failed grading, and turns it into battery-grade salts.
Pack value at 80% SOH
118 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
23,000 TPA
Hydrometallurgical Refinery
Cities served
3
From Lyon, France
Where a Ather Rizta Z pack goes from Lyon, France
- 1
Collected via Dubai, UAE
Whole packs enter the network at Dubai — Jebel Ali Logistics Yard, 5,003 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Graded at Stuttgart, Germany
Modules travel 469 km to Stuttgart — Baden-Wurttemberg Grading Works for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 2 modules.
- 3
Second life at Zwickau, Saxony
At 80% SOH about 56% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works (790 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refining at Lyon, France
Black mass from failed modules is leached and refined here into battery-grade lithium salts.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Dubai — Jebel Ali Logistics Yard | 5,003 km |
| Nearest grading bench | Stuttgart — Baden-Wurttemberg Grading Works | 469 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works | 790 km |
Faster option
Inside the Ather Rizta Z battery
The Ather Rizta Z (2024) carries a 3.7 kWh LFP Prismatic (LiFePO4) pack with 2 modules at 52 V, weighing roughly 27 kg. Cobalt-free prismatic chemistry dominant in Indian passenger EVs and commercial fleets. Low black mass value, exceptional second-life economics.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 96.4% | A — BESS ready | USD 194 |
| Year 4 | 93.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 188 |
| Year 6 | 90.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 182 |
| Year 8 | 87.1% | A — BESS ready | USD 176 |
| Year 10 | 84% | B — Second life | USD 152 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
LFP fades slowly and fairly linearly for most of its life. Capacity loss is driven mainly by lithium inventory being locked up in the SEI layer on the graphite anode, while the cathode structure stays largely intact.
Thermal behaviour
LFP's olivine cathode holds its oxygen tightly, so thermal runaway typically starts at higher temperatures than nickel-rich cells and releases noticeably less heat. It is not inert: a failing LFP cell still vents flammable electrolyte vapour and hydrogen, and large prismatic cans store a lot of energy in one place.
Handling LFP Prismatic
Collecting a Ather Rizta Z pack
3.7 kWh, 2 modules, about 27 kg — this is how the Lyon, France 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
Lyon, France site notes
- Only black mass and scrap are accepted.
- Cross-border shipments need prior documentation.
- Bulk bags must be sealed and labelled.
- Settlement follows assay at intake.
What this pack yields
lithium
0.27 kg
nickel
0 kg
cobalt
0 kg
manganese
0 kg
copper
0.83 kg
aluminium
0.99 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in France
EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and the French EPR (REP) system
Regulator: Ministry for Ecological Transition, with ADEME overseeing producer responsibility schemes
The refinery operates under French permitting for classified installations (ICPE) and the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. Waste shipments follow the EU Waste Shipment Regulation.
Ather Rizta Z in Lyon, France: common questions
Can I drop off a Ather Rizta Z battery at Lyon, France?
Lyon, France is a hydrometallurgical refinery and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Dubai, UAE, 5,003 km away.
What happens to Ather Rizta Z modules after Lyon, France?
Collected via Dubai, UAE, then Graded at Stuttgart, Germany, then Second life at Zwickau, Saxony, then Refining at Lyon, France. At 80% SOH roughly 56% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Ather Rizta Z 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 Rizta Z recycling in France?
EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and the French EPR (REP) system, overseen by Ministry for Ecological Transition, with ADEME overseeing producer responsibility schemes. Road transport follows ADR, and cross-border shipments follow the EU Waste Shipment Regulation.
Cities collected by Lyon, France
Ather Rizta Z at other sites
Other two-wheeler packs at Lyon, France
Retiring Ather Rizta Z packs near Lyon, France?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.