Ola Electric S1 X+ battery recycling in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada does not take whole packs. It receives black mass made from Ola Electric S1 X+ modules that failed grading, and turns it into battery-grade salts.
Pack value at 80% SOH
112 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
45,000 TPA
Hydrometallurgical Refinery
Cities served
7
From Reno, Nevada
Where a Ola Electric S1 X+ pack goes from Reno, Nevada
- 1
Collected via Dallas, Texas
Whole packs enter the network at Dallas — Texas Reverse Logistics Yard, 2,190 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Graded at Fremont, California
Modules travel 291 km to Fremont — California Diagnostics Works for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 2 modules.
- 3
Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden
At 80% SOH about 56% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus (8,309 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refining at Reno, Nevada
Black mass from failed modules is leached and refined here into battery-grade lithium salts.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Dallas — Texas Reverse Logistics Yard | 2,190 km |
| Nearest grading bench | Fremont — California Diagnostics Works | 291 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 8,309 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 Reno, Nevada 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
Reno, Nevada site notes
- Only black mass and cell or cathode scrap are accepted at this site.
- Bulk bags must be sealed, labelled and accompanied by chemistry declarations.
- Deliveries are booked into fixed dock windows at the industrial centre.
- Settlement follows sampling and assay at intake, with results shared with the consignor.
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 States
EPA universal waste rules, DOT hazardous materials regulations and state programmes
Regulator: EPA, DOT PHMSA and state environmental agencies
The refinery is permitted through the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, with conditions on air emissions, water use and hazardous materials. Inbound feed is managed under the applicable US EPA hazardous or universal waste rules, and shipments follow US DOT hazardous materials regulations.
Ola Electric S1 X+ in Reno, Nevada: common questions
Can I drop off a Ola Electric S1 X+ battery at Reno, Nevada?
Reno, Nevada is a hydrometallurgical refinery and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Dallas, Texas, 2,190 km away.
What happens to Ola Electric S1 X+ modules after Reno, Nevada?
Collected via Dallas, Texas, then Graded at Fremont, California, then Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden, then Refining at Reno, Nevada. 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 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 Reno, Nevada
Ola Electric S1 X+ at other sites
Other two-wheeler packs at Reno, Nevada
Retiring Ola Electric S1 X+ packs near Reno, Nevada?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.