Rivian R1T Large Pack battery recycling in Rotterdam, South Holland
Rotterdam, South Holland does not take whole packs. It receives black mass made from Rivian R1T Large Pack modules that failed grading, and turns it into battery-grade salts.
Pack value at 80% SOH
6,328 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
30,000 TPA
Hydrometallurgical Refinery
Cities served
2
From Rotterdam, South Holland
Where a Rivian R1T Large Pack pack goes from Rotterdam, South Holland
- 1
Collected via Dubai, UAE
Whole packs enter the network at Dubai — Jebel Ali Logistics Yard, 5,174 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Graded at Birmingham, England
Modules travel 439 km to Birmingham — West Midlands Grading Works for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 9 modules.
- 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 (572 km). Good — grade-A modules above 80% SOH qualify for commercial-scale BESS strings.
- 4
Refining at Rotterdam, South Holland
Black mass from failed modules is leached and refined here into battery-grade nickel, cobalt and lithium salts.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Dubai — Jebel Ali Logistics Yard | 5,174 km |
| Nearest grading bench | Birmingham — West Midlands Grading Works | 439 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works | 572 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 Rotterdam, South Holland 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
Rotterdam, South Holland site notes
- Only black mass and cathode scrap are accepted.
- Cross-border shipments need prior notification where applicable.
- Bulk bags must be sealed and labelled.
- Sampling at intake determines settlement.
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 Netherlands
EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and the Dutch Environmental Management Act
Regulator: Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, with enforcement by ILT
The works operates under Dutch environmental permits and the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, including recycling efficiency and material recovery targets. Cross-border waste shipments follow the EU Waste Shipment Regulation and, where relevant, Basel Convention procedures.
Rivian R1T Large Pack in Rotterdam, South Holland: common questions
Can I drop off a Rivian R1T Large Pack battery at Rotterdam, South Holland?
Rotterdam, South Holland is a hydrometallurgical refinery and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Dubai, UAE, 5,174 km away.
What happens to Rivian R1T Large Pack modules after Rotterdam, South Holland?
Collected via Dubai, UAE, then Graded at Birmingham, England, then Second life at Zwickau, Saxony, then Refining 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 Netherlands?
EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and the Dutch Environmental Management Act, overseen by Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, with enforcement by ILT. Road transport follows ADR and sea transport follows the IMDG Code, with frequent transhipment through Rotterdam.
Cities collected by Rotterdam, South Holland
Rivian R1T Large Pack at other sites
Other commercial fleet packs at Rotterdam, South Holland
Retiring Rivian R1T Large Pack packs near Rotterdam, South Holland?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.