Tata Ace EV battery recycling in Lyon, France
Lyon, France does not take whole packs. It receives black mass made from Tata Ace EV modules that failed grading, and turns it into battery-grade salts.
Pack value at 80% SOH
682 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
23,000 TPA
Hydrometallurgical Refinery
Cities served
3
From Lyon, France
Where a Tata Ace EV pack goes from Lyon, France
- 1
Collected via Dubai, UAE
Whole packs enter the network at Dubai — Jebel Ali Logistics Yard, 5,003 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Graded at Stuttgart, Germany
Modules travel 469 km to Stuttgart — Baden-Wurttemberg Grading Works for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 8 modules.
- 3
Second life at Zwickau, Saxony
At 80% SOH about 56% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works (790 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refining at Lyon, France
Black mass from failed modules is leached and refined here into battery-grade lithium salts.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Dubai — Jebel Ali Logistics Yard | 5,003 km |
| Nearest grading bench | Stuttgart — Baden-Wurttemberg Grading Works | 469 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works | 790 km |
Faster option
Inside the Tata Ace EV battery
The Tata Ace EV (2022) carries a 21.3 kWh LFP Prismatic (LiFePO4) pack with 8 modules at 300 V, weighing roughly 158 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 | 95.6% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,111 |
| Year 4 | 92.5% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,075 |
| Year 6 | 89.4% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,040 |
| Year 8 | 86.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 994 |
| Year 10 | 83.2% | B — Second life | USD 834 |
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 Tata Ace EV pack
21.3 kWh, 8 modules, about 158 kg — this is how the Lyon, France 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
Lyon, France site notes
- Only black mass and scrap are accepted.
- Cross-border shipments need prior documentation.
- Bulk bags must be sealed and labelled.
- Settlement follows assay at intake.
What this pack yields
lithium
1.58 kg
nickel
0 kg
cobalt
0 kg
manganese
0 kg
copper
4.78 kg
aluminium
5.7 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in France
EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and the French EPR (REP) system
Regulator: Ministry for Ecological Transition, with ADEME overseeing producer responsibility schemes
The refinery operates under French permitting for classified installations (ICPE) and the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. Waste shipments follow the EU Waste Shipment Regulation.
Tata Ace EV in Lyon, France: common questions
Can I drop off a Tata Ace EV battery at Lyon, France?
Lyon, France is a hydrometallurgical refinery and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Dubai, UAE, 5,003 km away.
What happens to Tata Ace EV modules after Lyon, France?
Collected via Dubai, UAE, then Graded at Stuttgart, Germany, then Second life at Zwickau, Saxony, then Refining at Lyon, France. At 80% SOH roughly 56% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Tata Ace EV 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 Tata Ace EV recycling in France?
EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and the French EPR (REP) system, overseen by Ministry for Ecological Transition, with ADEME overseeing producer responsibility schemes. Road transport follows ADR, and cross-border shipments follow the EU Waste Shipment Regulation.
Cities collected by Lyon, France
Tata Ace EV at other sites
Other commercial fleet packs at Lyon, France
Retiring Tata Ace EV packs near Lyon, France?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.