Ola Electric S1 X+ battery recycling in Birmingham, England
Birmingham, England is a diagnostics site: Ola Electric S1 X+ packs arrive here from intake yards for module-level capacity, resistance and impedance testing, which decides reuse or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
112 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
16,000 TPA
Cell Grading & Diagnostics
Cities served
3
From Birmingham, England
Where a Ola Electric S1 X+ pack goes from Birmingham, England
- 1
Collected via Toronto, Ontario
Whole packs enter the network at Toronto — Ontario Recovery Campus, 5,558 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Module grading at Birmingham, England
All 2 modules are tested for capacity, DC resistance and impedance, then assigned grade A to D.
- 3
Second life at Zwickau, Saxony
At 80% SOH about 56% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works (1,011 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refined at Rotterdam, South Holland
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Rotterdam — Maasvlakte Refining Works, 439 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Toronto — Ontario Recovery Campus | 5,558 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works | 1,011 km |
| Nearest refinery | Rotterdam — Maasvlakte Refining Works | 439 km |
Faster option
Inside the Ola Electric S1 X+ battery
The Ola Electric S1 X+ (2024) carries a 3.5 kWh LFP Prismatic (LiFePO4) pack with 2 modules at 48 V, weighing roughly 26 kg. Cobalt-free prismatic chemistry dominant in Indian passenger EVs and commercial fleets. Low black mass value, exceptional second-life economics.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 96.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 184 |
| Year 4 | 93.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 178 |
| Year 6 | 90.1% | A — BESS ready | USD 172 |
| Year 8 | 87% | A — BESS ready | USD 166 |
| Year 10 | 83.9% | B — Second life | USD 143 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
LFP fades slowly and fairly linearly for most of its life. Capacity loss is driven mainly by lithium inventory being locked up in the SEI layer on the graphite anode, while the cathode structure stays largely intact.
Thermal behaviour
LFP's olivine cathode holds its oxygen tightly, so thermal runaway typically starts at higher temperatures than nickel-rich cells and releases noticeably less heat. It is not inert: a failing LFP cell still vents flammable electrolyte vapour and hydrogen, and large prismatic cans store a lot of energy in one place.
Handling LFP Prismatic
Collecting a Ola Electric S1 X+ pack
3.5 kWh, 2 modules, about 26 kg — this is how the Birmingham, England 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
Birmingham, England site notes
- Dismantlers should secure packs before collection.
- Fleet operators can book depot pickups.
- Development packs require architecture details.
- Damaged packs need prior declaration.
What this pack yields
lithium
0.26 kg
nickel
0 kg
cobalt
0 kg
manganese
0 kg
copper
0.79 kg
aluminium
0.94 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in United Kingdom
Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009
Regulator: Environment Agency and devolved regulators, with OPSS on market placement
The works operates under Environment Agency permitting in England and the UK waste batteries regulations, which place producer responsibility obligations on those placing batteries on the market. Transport follows UK dangerous goods rules based on ADR.
Ola Electric S1 X+ in Birmingham, England: common questions
Can I drop off a Ola Electric S1 X+ battery at Birmingham, England?
Birmingham, England is a cell grading & diagnostics and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Toronto, Ontario, 5,558 km away.
What happens to Ola Electric S1 X+ modules after Birmingham, England?
Collected via Toronto, Ontario, then Module grading at Birmingham, England, then Second life at Zwickau, Saxony, then Refined at Rotterdam, South Holland. At 80% SOH roughly 56% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Ola Electric S1 X+ 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 X+ recycling in United Kingdom?
Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009, overseen by Environment Agency and devolved regulators, with OPSS on market placement. Road transport follows ADR through the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations, and exports need waste shipment approval.
Cities collected by Birmingham, England
Ola Electric S1 X+ at other sites
Other two-wheeler packs at Birmingham, England
Retiring Ola Electric S1 X+ packs near Birmingham, England?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.