Ola Electric S1 Air battery recycling in Detroit, Michigan
The Ola Electric S1 Air is not sold in this market, so packs reach Detroit, Michigan through importers, research and test fleets or cross-border consolidation. They are accepted as whole packs, with extra checks on documentation and transboundary paperwork.
Pack value at 80% SOH
141 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 Ola Electric S1 Air pack goes from Detroit, Michigan
- 1
Intake at Detroit, Michigan
Packs travel in UN-approved steel or plastic cages with non-conductive dividers, typically dozens per cage. 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 2 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 |
Faster option
Inside the Ola Electric S1 Air battery
The Ola Electric S1 Air (2023) carries a 3 kWh NMC 811 Cylindrical 2170 pack with 2 modules at 48 V, weighing roughly 17 kg. High-nickel cylindrical cells with the strongest hydrometallurgical recovery credit per tonne of black mass.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 95.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 189 |
| Year 4 | 90.9% | A — BESS ready | USD 181 |
| Year 6 | 86.6% | A — BESS ready | USD 174 |
| Year 8 | 82.3% | B — Second life | USD 151 |
| Year 10 | 78% | B — Second life | USD 132 |
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 Ola Electric S1 Air pack
3 kWh, 2 modules, about 17 kg — this is how the Detroit, Michigan team plans the job.
Removal
Removable packs are unclipped by hand; fixed packs are removed at the dealer bench with the frame supported.
Packaging
Packs travel in UN-approved steel or plastic cages with non-conductive dividers, typically dozens per cage.
Consolidation
Dealer and swap-station returns are aggregated at a single point so one collection clears many units.
Before the truck arrives
- Tape terminals and connectors on every pack
- Separate swollen or dropped packs into their own container
- Record serials in a single list per cage
- Store below 30% charge away from charging racks
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
0.17 kg
nickel
1.1 kg
cobalt
0.14 kg
manganese
0.13 kg
copper
0.55 kg
aluminium
0.46 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.
Ola Electric S1 Air in Detroit, Michigan: common questions
Can I drop off a Ola Electric S1 Air battery at Detroit, Michigan?
Yes, by appointment. Detroit — Michigan Closed-Loop Plant accepts whole Ola Electric S1 Air packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Ola Electric S1 Air 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 Ola Electric S1 Air pack be prepared for pickup?
Tape terminals and connectors on every pack. Separate swollen or dropped packs into their own container. Record serials in a single list per cage. Store below 30% charge away from charging racks.
Which rules apply to Ola Electric S1 Air 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
Ola Electric S1 Air at other sites
Other two-wheeler packs at Detroit, Michigan
Retiring Ola Electric S1 Air 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.