Ola Electric S1 Air battery recycling in Melbourne, Victoria
The Ola Electric S1 Air is not sold in this market, so packs reach Melbourne, Victoria 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
12,000 TPA
Reverse Logistics Yard
Cities served
2
From Melbourne, Victoria
Where a Ola Electric S1 Air pack goes from Melbourne, Victoria
- 1
Intake at Melbourne, Victoria
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 Tuas, Singapore
Modules travel 6,072 km to Singapore — Tuas Diagnostics Hub 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 (15,980 km). Good — grade-A modules above 80% SOH qualify for commercial-scale BESS strings.
- 4
Refined at Ningde, Fujian
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Ningde — Fujian Refining Base, 7,644 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | Singapore — Tuas Diagnostics Hub | 6,072 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 15,980 km |
| Nearest refinery | Ningde — Fujian Refining Base | 7,644 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 Melbourne, Victoria 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
Melbourne, Victoria site notes
- Declare chemistry and state of charge at booking.
- Storage installers can book collections.
- Damaged units require special handling.
- Consolidated loads reduce transport cost.
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 Australia
Product Stewardship Act 2011 and state waste legislation
Regulator: DCCEEW (federal) and state EPAs
The yard operates under Victorian environmental rules administered by EPA Victoria and national battery stewardship arrangements. Transport follows the Australian Dangerous Goods Code.
Ola Electric S1 Air in Melbourne, Victoria: common questions
Can I drop off a Ola Electric S1 Air battery at Melbourne, Victoria?
Yes, by appointment. Melbourne — Victoria Collection Yard 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 Melbourne, Victoria?
Intake at Melbourne, Victoria, then Graded at Tuas, Singapore, 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 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 Australia?
Product Stewardship Act 2011 and state waste legislation, overseen by DCCEEW (federal) and state EPAs. Road movements follow the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, with lithium-ion batteries shipped as Class 9 under UN 3480 or UN 3481.
Cities collected by Melbourne, Victoria
Ola Electric S1 Air at other sites
Other two-wheeler packs at Melbourne, Victoria
Retiring Ola Electric S1 Air packs near Melbourne, Victoria?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.