Hyundai Kona Electric battery recycling in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia is a diagnostics site: Hyundai Kona Electric packs arrive here from intake yards for module-level capacity, resistance and impedance testing, which decides reuse or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
1,711 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
22,000 TPA
Cell Grading & Diagnostics
Cities served
0
From Atlanta, Georgia
Where a Hyundai Kona Electric pack goes from Atlanta, Georgia
- 1
Collected via Detroit, Michigan
Whole packs enter the network at Detroit — Michigan Closed-Loop Plant, 961 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Module grading at Atlanta, Georgia
All 8 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 (7,243 km). Selective — only low-swell pouch stacks above 82% SOH are cleared for repurposing.
- 4
Refined at Reno, Nevada
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Reno — Nevada Hydrometallurgy Refinery, 3,203 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Detroit — Michigan Closed-Loop Plant | 961 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 7,243 km |
| Nearest refinery | Reno — Nevada Hydrometallurgy Refinery | 3,203 km |
Faster option
Inside the Hyundai Kona Electric battery
The Hyundai Kona Electric (2019) carries a 39.2 kWh NCA Pouch pack with 8 modules at 356 V, weighing roughly 212 kg. Premium nickel-cobalt pouch stacks with the highest recovery credit and the strictest safety handling class.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 94.8% | A — BESS ready | USD 2,129 |
| Year 4 | 90.5% | A — BESS ready | USD 2,048 |
| Year 6 | 86.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,956 |
| Year 8 | 81.9% | B — Second life | USD 1,777 |
| Year 10 | 77.6% | B — Second life | USD 1,640 |
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 Hyundai Kona Electric pack
39.2 kWh, 8 modules, about 212 kg — this is how the Atlanta, Georgia 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
Atlanta, Georgia site notes
- Fleet depots across the south-east can book consolidated pickups to share transport cost.
- Send serial lists so grading reports map directly to your asset records.
- Damaged or recalled packs must be declared so they ship under the correct DOT provisions.
- Shrink-wrap pallets and label them with the correct UN numbers before collection.
What this pack yields
lithium
2.09 kg
nickel
15.24 kg
cobalt
2.52 kg
manganese
0.25 kg
copper
7.93 kg
aluminium
5.04 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 centre operates under Georgia Environmental Protection Division requirements and manages spent lithium-ion batteries under the US EPA universal waste framework where applicable. Transport follows US DOT hazardous materials rules for lithium batteries.
Hyundai Kona Electric in Atlanta, Georgia: common questions
Can I drop off a Hyundai Kona Electric battery at Atlanta, Georgia?
Atlanta, Georgia is a cell grading & diagnostics and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Detroit, Michigan, 961 km away.
What happens to Hyundai Kona Electric modules after Atlanta, Georgia?
Collected via Detroit, Michigan, then Module grading at Atlanta, Georgia, 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 Hyundai Kona Electric 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 Hyundai Kona Electric 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.
Hyundai Kona Electric at other sites
Retiring Hyundai Kona Electric packs near Atlanta, Georgia?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.