Olectra K9 Electric Bus battery recycling in Changsari, Assam
Guwahati — Changsari North-East 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
5,000 TPA
Reverse Logistics Yard
Cities served
0
From Changsari, Assam
Where a Olectra K9 Electric Bus pack goes from Changsari, Assam
- 1
Intake at Changsari, Assam
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 Gurugram, Haryana
Modules travel 1,463 km to NCR — Gurugram Collection & Grading Hub 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 (1,425 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refined at Haldia, West Bengal
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Kolkata — Haldia Refining Works, 592 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | NCR — Gurugram Collection & Grading Hub | 1,463 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works | 1,425 km |
| Nearest refinery | Kolkata — Haldia Refining Works | 592 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 Changsari, Assam 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
Changsari, Assam site notes
- Onward transit takes longer than elsewhere because of distance and terrain.
- Batteries are held in monitored storage until a full load is assembled.
- Keep batteries protected from rain and humidity before collection.
- Declare any damage in advance so isolated storage is available.
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 Assam's state environmental consent regime and supports the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 by keeping custody records for every unit collected in the north-east.
Olectra K9 Electric Bus in Changsari, Assam: common questions
Can I drop off a Olectra K9 Electric Bus battery at Changsari, Assam?
Yes, by appointment. Guwahati — Changsari North-East 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 Changsari, Assam?
Intake at Changsari, Assam, then Graded at Gurugram, Haryana, then Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra, then Refined at Haldia, West Bengal. 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.
Olectra K9 Electric Bus at other sites
Other bus packs at Changsari, Assam
Retiring Olectra K9 Electric Bus packs near Changsari, Assam?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.