Tata Ace EV battery recycling in Ningde, Fujian
Ningde, Fujian 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
48,000 TPA
Hydrometallurgical Refinery
Cities served
4
From Ningde, Fujian
Where a Tata Ace EV pack goes from Ningde, Fujian
- 1
Collected via Ulsan, South Korea
Whole packs enter the network at Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus, 1,354 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Graded at Yokohama, Kanagawa
Modules travel 2,142 km to Yokohama — Kanagawa Diagnostics Works for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 8 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 (8,495 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refining at Ningde, Fujian
Black mass from failed modules is leached and refined here into battery-grade lithium salts.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus | 1,354 km |
| Nearest grading bench | Yokohama — Kanagawa Diagnostics Works | 2,142 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 8,495 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 Ningde, Fujian 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
Ningde, Fujian site notes
- Only black mass and scrap are accepted.
- Import eligibility must be confirmed before shipment.
- 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 China
MIIT management measures for new energy vehicle power battery recycling
Regulator: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
The base operates under Chinese environmental permitting and national rules for recycling new energy vehicle batteries, including traceability requirements. Imports are subject to Chinese customs controls and solid waste import restrictions.
Tata Ace EV in Ningde, Fujian: common questions
Can I drop off a Tata Ace EV battery at Ningde, Fujian?
Ningde, Fujian is a hydrometallurgical refinery and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Ulsan, South Korea, 1,354 km away.
What happens to Tata Ace EV modules after Ningde, Fujian?
Collected via Ulsan, South Korea, then Graded at Yokohama, Kanagawa, then Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden, then Refining at Ningde, Fujian. 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 China?
MIIT management measures for new energy vehicle power battery recycling, overseen by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Road transport of retired power batteries follows national dangerous goods rules, with packaging and labelling set by national standards.
Cities collected by Ningde, Fujian
Tata Ace EV at other sites
Other commercial fleet packs at Ningde, Fujian
Retiring Tata Ace EV packs near Ningde, Fujian?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.