Audi e-tron 55 quattro battery recycling in Ulsan, South Korea
Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus takes whole Audi e-tron 55 quattro packs straight from fleets, dealers and workshops. Packs are weighed, de-energised and logged here before modules move on for grading or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
4,147 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 Audi e-tron 55 quattro pack goes from Ulsan, South Korea
- 1
Intake at Ulsan, South Korea
One pack per UN-rated pallet box, strapped and restrained, with terminals capped and coolant ports sealed. 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 36 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). Selective — only low-swell pouch stacks above 82% SOH are cleared for repurposing.
- 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 |
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 Ulsan, South Korea 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
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
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 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.
Audi e-tron 55 quattro in Ulsan, South Korea: common questions
Can I drop off a Audi e-tron 55 quattro battery at Ulsan, South Korea?
Yes, by appointment. Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus accepts whole Audi e-tron 55 quattro packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Audi e-tron 55 quattro 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 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 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
Audi e-tron 55 quattro at other sites
Retiring Audi e-tron 55 quattro 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.