Rivian R1T Large Pack battery recycling in Birmingham, England
Birmingham, England is a diagnostics site: Rivian R1T Large Pack packs arrive here from intake yards for module-level capacity, resistance and impedance testing, which decides reuse or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
6,328 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
16,000 TPA
Cell Grading & Diagnostics
Cities served
3
From Birmingham, England
Where a Rivian R1T Large Pack pack goes from Birmingham, England
- 1
Collected via Toronto, Ontario
Whole packs enter the network at Toronto — Ontario Recovery Campus, 5,558 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Module grading at Birmingham, England
All 9 modules are tested for capacity, DC resistance and impedance, then assigned grade A to D.
- 3
Second life at Zwickau, Saxony
At 80% SOH about 47% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works (1,011 km). Good — grade-A modules above 80% SOH qualify for commercial-scale BESS strings.
- 4
Refined at Rotterdam, South Holland
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Rotterdam — Maasvlakte Refining Works, 439 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Toronto — Ontario Recovery Campus | 5,558 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works | 1,011 km |
| Nearest refinery | Rotterdam — Maasvlakte Refining Works | 439 km |
Faster option
Inside the Rivian R1T Large Pack battery
The Rivian R1T Large Pack (2022) carries a 135 kWh NMC 811 Cylindrical 2170 pack with 9 modules at 400 V, weighing roughly 756 kg. High-nickel cylindrical cells with the strongest hydrometallurgical recovery credit per tonne of black mass.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 94.6% | A — BESS ready | USD 8,445 |
| Year 4 | 90.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 8,109 |
| Year 6 | 86% | A — BESS ready | USD 7,674 |
| Year 8 | 81.7% | B — Second life | USD 6,675 |
| Year 10 | 77.4% | B — Second life | USD 5,850 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
NMC 811 loses capacity through a mix of SEI growth, cathode surface reconstruction and micro-cracking of nickel-rich particles. Resistance climbs faster than in LFP, which matters as much as capacity for second-life duty.
Thermal behaviour
High-nickel NMC cathodes release oxygen as they decompose, so once runaway starts it is fast and energetic. Cylindrical 2170 cells vent through a designed rupture point, which helps, but cell-to-cell propagation inside a tightly packed module is the main hazard.
Handling NMC 811 (2170)
Collecting a Rivian R1T Large Pack pack
135 kWh, 9 modules, about 756 kg — this is how the Birmingham, England team plans the job.
Removal
Large packs are removed at the depot with a forklift-rated battery table and the vehicle isolated under lock-out tag-out.
Packaging
Each pack travels in a rated crate or on a restrained pallet, with coolant drained and ports sealed.
Consolidation
Depot retirements are batched against the fleet replacement schedule so collections line up with vehicle swaps.
Before the truck arrives
- Share telematics SOH history if it is available
- Confirm forklift access and dock height at the depot
- Isolate high-voltage systems under lock-out tag-out
- Declare any pack involved in a collision
Birmingham, England site notes
- Dismantlers should secure packs before collection.
- Fleet operators can book depot pickups.
- Development packs require architecture details.
- Damaged packs need prior declaration.
What this pack yields
lithium
7.68 kg
nickel
49.6 kg
cobalt
6.14 kg
manganese
5.71 kg
copper
24.58 kg
aluminium
20.63 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in United Kingdom
Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009
Regulator: Environment Agency and devolved regulators, with OPSS on market placement
The works operates under Environment Agency permitting in England and the UK waste batteries regulations, which place producer responsibility obligations on those placing batteries on the market. Transport follows UK dangerous goods rules based on ADR.
Rivian R1T Large Pack in Birmingham, England: common questions
Can I drop off a Rivian R1T Large Pack battery at Birmingham, England?
Birmingham, England is a cell grading & diagnostics and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Toronto, Ontario, 5,558 km away.
What happens to Rivian R1T Large Pack modules after Birmingham, England?
Collected via Toronto, Ontario, then Module grading at Birmingham, England, then Second life at Zwickau, Saxony, then Refined at Rotterdam, South Holland. At 80% SOH roughly 47% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Rivian R1T Large Pack pack be prepared for pickup?
Share telematics SOH history if it is available. Confirm forklift access and dock height at the depot. Isolate high-voltage systems under lock-out tag-out. Declare any pack involved in a collision.
Which rules apply to Rivian R1T Large Pack recycling in United Kingdom?
Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009, overseen by Environment Agency and devolved regulators, with OPSS on market placement. Road transport follows ADR through the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations, and exports need waste shipment approval.
Cities collected by Birmingham, England
Rivian R1T Large Pack at other sites
Other commercial fleet packs at Birmingham, England
Retiring Rivian R1T Large Pack packs near Birmingham, England?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.