Kia EV6 GT-Line battery recycling in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit — Michigan Closed-Loop Plant takes whole Kia EV6 GT-Line 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
3,628 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
40,000 TPA
Integrated Recovery Campus
Cities served
10
From Detroit, Michigan
Where a Kia EV6 GT-Line pack goes from Detroit, Michigan
- 1
Intake at Detroit, Michigan
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 Atlanta, Georgia
Modules travel 961 km to Atlanta — Georgia Grading Centre for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 32 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 (6,413 km). Good — grade-A modules above 80% SOH qualify for commercial-scale BESS strings.
- 4
Refined at Reno, Nevada
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Reno — Nevada Hydrometallurgy Refinery, 3,080 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | Atlanta — Georgia Grading Centre | 961 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 6,413 km |
| Nearest refinery | Reno — Nevada Hydrometallurgy Refinery | 3,080 km |
Inside the Kia EV6 GT-Line battery
The Kia EV6 GT-Line (2022) carries a 77.4 kWh NMC 811 Cylindrical 2170 pack with 32 modules at 697 V, weighing roughly 433 kg. High-nickel cylindrical cells with the strongest hydrometallurgical recovery credit per tonne of black mass.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 94.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,828 |
| Year 4 | 90% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,636 |
| Year 6 | 85.7% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,357 |
| Year 8 | 81.4% | B — Second life | USD 3,791 |
| Year 10 | 77.1% | B — Second life | USD 3,325 |
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 Kia EV6 GT-Line pack
77.4 kWh, 32 modules, about 433 kg — this is how the Detroit, Michigan 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
Detroit, Michigan site notes
- Send architecture drawings or a disassembly note with prototype packs so the right procedure is prepared.
- Engineering centres can book recurring collections for validation and test waste.
- Damaged, defective or recalled units must be declared so they ship under the correct DOT provisions.
- Truck and large commercial packs need advance notice so rigging and crew are scheduled.
What this pack yields
lithium
4.4 kg
nickel
28.43 kg
cobalt
3.52 kg
manganese
3.27 kg
copper
14.09 kg
aluminium
11.83 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 campus operates under permits administered by Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and manages spent lithium-ion batteries under the US EPA universal waste framework where it applies. Transport follows US DOT hazardous materials regulations for lithium batteries, including the separate provisions for damaged, defective or recalled cells.
Kia EV6 GT-Line in Detroit, Michigan: common questions
Can I drop off a Kia EV6 GT-Line battery at Detroit, Michigan?
Yes, by appointment. Detroit — Michigan Closed-Loop Plant accepts whole Kia EV6 GT-Line packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Kia EV6 GT-Line modules after Detroit, Michigan?
Intake at Detroit, Michigan, then Graded 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 Kia EV6 GT-Line 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 Kia EV6 GT-Line 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.
Cities collected by Detroit, Michigan
Kia EV6 GT-Line at other sites
Retiring Kia EV6 GT-Line packs near Detroit, Michigan?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.