Olectra K9 Electric Bus battery recycling in Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh does not take whole packs. It receives black mass made from Olectra K9 Electric Bus modules that failed grading, and turns it into battery-grade salts.
Pack value at 80% SOH
10,377 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
13,000 TPA
Hydrometallurgical Refinery
Cities served
0
From Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Where a Olectra K9 Electric Bus pack goes from Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
- 1
Collected via Khordha, Odisha
Whole packs enter the network at Bhubaneswar — Khordha Collection Yard, 411 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Graded at Hosur, Tamil Nadu
Modules travel 761 km to Bengaluru — Hosur Diagnostics Centre 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 (558 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refining at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Black mass from failed modules is leached and refined here into battery-grade lithium salts.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Bhubaneswar — Khordha Collection Yard | 411 km |
| Nearest grading bench | Bengaluru — Hosur Diagnostics Centre | 761 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works | 558 km |
Faster option
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 Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh 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
Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh site notes
- Only black mass and cathode scrap are accepted at this site.
- Bulk bags must be sealed, labelled and accompanied by declared chemistry.
- Port-linked consignments need documentation before arrival.
- Sampling at intake determines settlement; results are shared with the consignor.
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 refinery operates under Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board consent, with conditions covering effluent treatment, air emissions and hazardous chemical storage. As a registered recycler it generates recovery evidence for producers under the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, and port-linked movements follow customs and applicable waste-shipment controls.
Olectra K9 Electric Bus in Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh: common questions
Can I drop off a Olectra K9 Electric Bus battery at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh?
Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh is a hydrometallurgical refinery and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Khordha, Odisha, 411 km away.
What happens to Olectra K9 Electric Bus modules after Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh?
Collected via Khordha, Odisha, then Graded at Hosur, Tamil Nadu, then Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra, then Refining 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.
Olectra K9 Electric Bus at other sites
Other bus packs at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Retiring Olectra K9 Electric Bus packs near Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.