Olectra K9 Electric Bus battery recycling in Sanand, Gujarat
Gujarat — Sanand Reverse Logistics Yard takes whole Olectra K9 Electric Bus packs straight from fleets, dealers and workshops. Packs are weighed, de-energised and logged here before modules move on for grading or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
10,377 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
21,000 TPA
Reverse Logistics Yard
Cities served
7
From Sanand, Gujarat
Where a Olectra K9 Electric Bus pack goes from Sanand, Gujarat
- 1
Intake at Sanand, Gujarat
Packs travel as individual heavy crates on flatbed or curtain-side trailers with load restraint rated for the mass. Each pack is weighed, photographed and discharged below 30% state of charge.
- 2
Graded at Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh
Modules travel 341 km to Indore — Pithampur Grading Plant for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 22 modules.
- 3
Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra
At 80% SOH about 56% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works (714 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refined at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Visakhapatnam — Atchutapuram Refinery, 1,249 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | Indore — Pithampur Grading Plant | 341 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works | 714 km |
| Nearest refinery | Visakhapatnam — Atchutapuram Refinery | 1,249 km |
Inside the Olectra K9 Electric Bus battery
The Olectra K9 Electric Bus (2021) carries a 324 kWh LFP Prismatic (LiFePO4) pack with 22 modules at 620 V, weighing roughly 2398 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 | 95.5% | A — BESS ready | USD 16,875 |
| Year 4 | 92.4% | A — BESS ready | USD 16,339 |
| Year 6 | 89.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 15,803 |
| Year 8 | 86.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 15,034 |
| Year 10 | 83.1% | B — Second life | USD 12,605 |
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 Olectra K9 Electric Bus pack
324 kWh, 22 modules, about 2398 kg — this is how the Sanand, Gujarat team plans the job.
Removal
Roof- or floor-mounted packs are lifted by crane or gantry with the OEM lifting frame, one string at a time.
Packaging
Packs travel as individual heavy crates on flatbed or curtain-side trailers with load restraint rated for the mass.
Consolidation
Bus packs are collected per depot and per retirement window, usually a full trailer per visit.
Before the truck arrives
- Confirm crane or gantry access and lifting frame availability
- Isolate each pack string and record its voltage
- Share pack-string serials against the bus fleet number
- Plan collection around depot operating hours
Sanand, Gujarat site notes
- Plants in Sanand GIDC can align scheduled pickups with their shift patterns to avoid blocking loading docks.
- Ask for UN-approved containers at booking if you do not hold your own; they are delivered before the collection date.
- Declare state of charge; packs above 30% SOC are discharged at the yard before they are forwarded.
- Damaged packs are moved into steel containment immediately on arrival and forwarded under separate paperwork.
What this pack yields
lithium
24.03 kg
nickel
0 kg
cobalt
0 kg
manganese
0 kg
copper
72.67 kg
aluminium
86.74 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 yard operates under Gujarat Pollution Control Board authorisation for storing and handling battery waste. It sits within the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 chain as a collection and storage point, issuing custody records that follow each unit to the registered recycler that ultimately generates the producer's EPR evidence.
Olectra K9 Electric Bus in Sanand, Gujarat: common questions
Can I drop off a Olectra K9 Electric Bus battery at Sanand, Gujarat?
Yes, by appointment. Gujarat — Sanand Reverse Logistics Yard accepts whole Olectra K9 Electric Bus packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Olectra K9 Electric Bus modules after Sanand, Gujarat?
Intake at Sanand, Gujarat, then Graded at Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, then Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra, then Refined at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh. At 80% SOH roughly 56% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Olectra K9 Electric Bus pack be prepared for pickup?
Confirm crane or gantry access and lifting frame availability. Isolate each pack string and record its voltage. Share pack-string serials against the bus fleet number. Plan collection around depot operating hours.
Which rules apply to Olectra K9 Electric Bus 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.
Cities collected by Sanand, Gujarat
Olectra K9 Electric Bus at other sites
Other bus packs at Sanand, Gujarat
Retiring Olectra K9 Electric Bus packs near Sanand, Gujarat?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.