Audi e-tron 55 quattro battery recycling in Stuttgart, Germany
Stuttgart, Germany is a diagnostics site: Audi e-tron 55 quattro packs arrive here from intake yards for module-level capacity, resistance and impedance testing, which decides reuse or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
4,147 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
28,000 TPA
Cell Grading & Diagnostics
Cities served
12
From Stuttgart, Germany
Where a Audi e-tron 55 quattro pack goes from Stuttgart, Germany
- 1
Collected via Dubai, UAE
Whole packs enter the network at Dubai — Jebel Ali Logistics Yard, 4,759 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Module grading at Stuttgart, Germany
All 36 modules are tested for capacity, DC resistance and impedance, then assigned grade A to D.
- 3
Second life at Zwickau, Saxony
At 80% SOH about 47% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works (321 km). Selective — only low-swell pouch stacks above 82% SOH are cleared for repurposing.
- 4
Refined at Lyon, France
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Lyon — Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Refinery, 469 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Dubai — Jebel Ali Logistics Yard | 4,759 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works | 321 km |
| Nearest refinery | Lyon — Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Refinery | 469 km |
Faster option
Inside the Audi e-tron 55 quattro battery
The Audi e-tron 55 quattro (2019) carries a 95 kWh NCA Pouch pack with 36 modules at 396 V, weighing roughly 513 kg. Premium nickel-cobalt pouch stacks with the highest recovery credit and the strictest safety handling class.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 94.9% | A — BESS ready | USD 5,165 |
| Year 4 | 90.6% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,967 |
| Year 6 | 86.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,751 |
| Year 8 | 82% | B — Second life | USD 4,315 |
| Year 10 | 77.7% | B — Second life | USD 3,982 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
NCA can deliver long life when it is kept in a moderate state-of-charge window, but it is sensitive to high voltage and heat. Swelling from gas generation is a common retirement signal in pouch formats.
Thermal behaviour
NCA shares the oxygen-release behaviour of high-nickel cathodes and is generally considered among the more reactive EV chemistries. Pouch cells have no rigid can, so mechanical damage and swelling translate quickly into safety risk.
Handling NCA Pouch
Collecting a Audi e-tron 55 quattro pack
95 kWh, 36 modules, about 513 kg — this is how the Stuttgart, Germany team plans the job.
Removal
Packs are dropped on a vehicle lift using the OEM procedure and a rated battery table, then isolated at the service disconnect.
Packaging
One pack per UN-rated pallet box, strapped and restrained, with terminals capped and coolant ports sealed.
Consolidation
Dealer and workshop returns are consolidated into full truckloads, typically eight or more packs per run.
Before the truck arrives
- Pull the service disconnect and record pack voltage
- Drain or cap coolant lines before lifting
- Photograph the pack casing and any impact damage
- Keep the VIN and pack serial together on the manifest
Stuttgart, Germany site notes
- Engineering packs should come with architecture information.
- Suppliers can book recurring collections for returns.
- Damaged packs need ADR-compliant packaging.
- Send a serial list with each delivery.
What this pack yields
lithium
5.06 kg
nickel
36.93 kg
cobalt
6.11 kg
manganese
0.6 kg
copper
19.21 kg
aluminium
12.21 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in Germany
EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and national implementing law
Regulator: Umweltbundesamt (UBA) with registration through stiftung ear
The works operates under German environmental permitting and battery law aligned with the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. Transport follows ADR rules for dangerous goods, including the special provisions for damaged or defective lithium batteries.
Audi e-tron 55 quattro in Stuttgart, Germany: common questions
Can I drop off a Audi e-tron 55 quattro battery at Stuttgart, Germany?
Stuttgart, Germany is a cell grading & diagnostics and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Dubai, UAE, 4,759 km away.
What happens to Audi e-tron 55 quattro modules after Stuttgart, Germany?
Collected via Dubai, UAE, then Module grading at Stuttgart, Germany, then Second life at Zwickau, Saxony, then Refined at Lyon, France. At 80% SOH roughly 47% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Audi e-tron 55 quattro pack be prepared for pickup?
Pull the service disconnect and record pack voltage. Drain or cap coolant lines before lifting. Photograph the pack casing and any impact damage. Keep the VIN and pack serial together on the manifest.
Which rules apply to Audi e-tron 55 quattro recycling in Germany?
EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and national implementing law, overseen by Umweltbundesamt (UBA) with registration through stiftung ear. Road transport follows ADR, and shipments out of Germany fall under the EU Waste Shipment Regulation.
Cities collected by Stuttgart, Germany
Audi e-tron 55 quattro at other sites
Retiring Audi e-tron 55 quattro packs near Stuttgart, Germany?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.