Piaggio Ape E-City battery recycling in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada does not take whole packs. It receives black mass made from Piaggio Ape E-City modules that failed grading, and turns it into battery-grade salts.
Pack value at 80% SOH
256 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 Piaggio Ape E-City 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 4 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 Piaggio Ape E-City battery
The Piaggio Ape E-City (2021) carries a 8 kWh LFP Prismatic (LiFePO4) pack with 4 modules at 60 V, weighing roughly 59 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 | 96.8% | A — BESS ready | USD 422 |
| Year 4 | 93.7% | A — BESS ready | USD 409 |
| Year 6 | 90.6% | A — BESS ready | USD 396 |
| Year 8 | 87.5% | A — BESS ready | USD 383 |
| Year 10 | 84.4% | B — Second life | USD 336 |
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 Piaggio Ape E-City pack
8 kWh, 4 modules, about 59 kg — this is how the Reno, Nevada team plans the job.
Removal
Packs are removed from the under-seat or rear bay; high-cycle fleet packs are checked for water ingress first.
Packaging
Packs are palletised in small groups inside UN-rated boxes, with dividers between units.
Consolidation
Fleet depots and dealer service points are scheduled as recurring milk runs rather than one-off pickups.
Before the truck arrives
- Check for corrosion and water ingress in the pack bay
- Flag any aftermarket or repaired packs on the manifest
- Tape terminals and remove quick-connect plugs
- Group packs by chemistry before collection
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
0.59 kg
nickel
0 kg
cobalt
0 kg
manganese
0 kg
copper
1.79 kg
aluminium
2.14 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.
Piaggio Ape E-City in Reno, Nevada: common questions
Can I drop off a Piaggio Ape E-City 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 Piaggio Ape E-City 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 Piaggio Ape E-City pack be prepared for pickup?
Check for corrosion and water ingress in the pack bay. Flag any aftermarket or repaired packs on the manifest. Tape terminals and remove quick-connect plugs. Group packs by chemistry before collection.
Which rules apply to Piaggio Ape E-City 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
Piaggio Ape E-City at other sites
Other three-wheeler packs at Reno, Nevada
Retiring Piaggio Ape E-City 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.