Nissan Leaf ZE1 battery recycling in Kalamassery, Kerala
Kalamassery, Kerala is a diagnostics site: Nissan Leaf ZE1 packs arrive here from intake yards for module-level capacity, resistance and impedance testing, which decides reuse or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
1,167 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
7,000 TPA
Cell Grading & Diagnostics
Cities served
0
From Kalamassery, Kerala
Where a Nissan Leaf ZE1 pack goes from Kalamassery, Kerala
- 1
Collected via Zaheerabad, Telangana
Whole packs enter the network at Hyderabad — Zaheerabad Recovery Campus, 860 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Module grading at Kalamassery, Kerala
All 24 modules are tested for capacity, DC resistance and impedance, then assigned grade A to D.
- 3
Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra
At 80% SOH about 47% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works (1,242 km). Limited — accelerated manganese dissolution caps second-life warranty terms at 36 months.
- 4
Refined at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Chennai — Sriperumbudur Recovery Campus, 510 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Hyderabad — Zaheerabad Recovery Campus | 860 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works | 1,242 km |
| Nearest refinery | Chennai — Sriperumbudur Recovery Campus | 510 km |
Faster option
Inside the Nissan Leaf ZE1 battery
The Nissan Leaf ZE1 (2018) carries a 40 kWh LMO / LMO-NMC Pouch pack with 24 modules at 350 V, weighing roughly 324 kg. Legacy manganese-rich pouch packs common in early two- and three-wheeler fleets across South Asia.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 95.4% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,450 |
| Year 4 | 91.1% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,394 |
| Year 6 | 86.8% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,339 |
| Year 8 | 82.5% | B — Second life | USD 1,223 |
| Year 10 | 78.2% | B — Second life | USD 1,132 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
LMO's weak point is manganese dissolution, which speeds up at elevated temperature and damages the anode. Packs that lived in hot climates without active cooling typically fade faster.
Thermal behaviour
Manganese spinel is more thermally stable than nickel-rich cathodes, but blended LMO-NMC pouch cells still vent flammable gas when abused, and older packs may have weaker protection electronics.
Handling LMO Pouch
Collecting a Nissan Leaf ZE1 pack
40 kWh, 24 modules, about 324 kg — this is how the Kalamassery, Kerala 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
Kalamassery, Kerala site notes
- Heavy commercial packs are routed to larger sites with lifting equipment.
- Keep packs covered during loading, especially in the monsoon months.
- Send a serial list with every consignment.
- Declare any water ingress or swelling at booking so the pack is isolated on arrival.
What this pack yields
lithium
2.82 kg
nickel
6.02 kg
cobalt
0.85 kg
manganese
17.59 kg
copper
11.1 kg
aluminium
12.41 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in India
Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 (BWMR)
Regulator: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards
The bench operates under Kerala State Pollution Control Board consent within a KINFRA park and grades material for producers under the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, with custody records passed on to the downstream recycler.
Nissan Leaf ZE1 in Kalamassery, Kerala: common questions
Can I drop off a Nissan Leaf ZE1 battery at Kalamassery, Kerala?
Kalamassery, Kerala is a cell grading & diagnostics and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Zaheerabad, Telangana, 860 km away.
What happens to Nissan Leaf ZE1 modules after Kalamassery, Kerala?
Collected via Zaheerabad, Telangana, then Module grading at Kalamassery, Kerala, then Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra, then Refined at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. At 80% SOH roughly 47% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Nissan Leaf ZE1 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 Nissan Leaf ZE1 recycling in India?
Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 (BWMR), overseen by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards. Retired packs move as hazardous goods by road under central motor vehicle rules, and export needs Basel-compliant permissions.
Nissan Leaf ZE1 at other sites
Other passenger packs at Kalamassery, Kerala
Retiring Nissan Leaf ZE1 packs near Kalamassery, Kerala?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.