Tata Tiago EV battery recycling in Detroit, Michigan
The Tata Tiago EV is not sold in this market, so packs reach Detroit, Michigan through importers, research and test fleets or cross-border consolidation. They are accepted as whole packs, with extra checks on documentation and transboundary paperwork.
Pack value at 80% SOH
769 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
40,000 TPA
Integrated Recovery Campus
Cities served
10
From Detroit, Michigan
Where a Tata Tiago EV pack goes from Detroit, Michigan
- 1
Intake at Detroit, Michigan
One pack per UN-rated pallet box, strapped and restrained, with terminals capped and coolant ports sealed. Each pack is weighed, photographed and discharged below 30% state of charge.
- 2
Graded at Atlanta, Georgia
Modules travel 961 km to Atlanta — Georgia Grading Centre for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 10 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 (6,413 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refined at Reno, Nevada
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Reno — Nevada Hydrometallurgy Refinery, 3,080 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | Atlanta — Georgia Grading Centre | 961 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 6,413 km |
| Nearest refinery | Reno — Nevada Hydrometallurgy Refinery | 3,080 km |
Faster option
Inside the Tata Tiago EV battery
The Tata Tiago EV (2023) carries a 24 kWh LFP Prismatic (LiFePO4) pack with 10 modules at 300 V, weighing roughly 178 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 | 95.7% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,253 |
| Year 4 | 92.6% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,213 |
| Year 6 | 89.5% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,173 |
| Year 8 | 86.4% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,126 |
| Year 10 | 83.3% | B — Second life | USD 945 |
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 Tiago EV pack
24 kWh, 10 modules, about 178 kg — this is how the Detroit, Michigan team plans the job.
Removal
Packs are dropped on a vehicle lift using the OEM procedure and a rated battery table, then isolated at the service disconnect.
Packaging
One pack per UN-rated pallet box, strapped and restrained, with terminals capped and coolant ports sealed.
Consolidation
Dealer and workshop returns are consolidated into full truckloads, typically eight or more packs per run.
Before the truck arrives
- Pull the service disconnect and record pack voltage
- Drain or cap coolant lines before lifting
- Photograph the pack casing and any impact damage
- Keep the VIN and pack serial together on the manifest
Detroit, Michigan site notes
- Send architecture drawings or a disassembly note with prototype packs so the right procedure is prepared.
- Engineering centres can book recurring collections for validation and test waste.
- Damaged, defective or recalled units must be declared so they ship under the correct DOT provisions.
- Truck and large commercial packs need advance notice so rigging and crew are scheduled.
What this pack yields
lithium
1.78 kg
nickel
0 kg
cobalt
0 kg
manganese
0 kg
copper
5.38 kg
aluminium
6.43 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 campus operates under permits administered by Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and manages spent lithium-ion batteries under the US EPA universal waste framework where it applies. Transport follows US DOT hazardous materials regulations for lithium batteries, including the separate provisions for damaged, defective or recalled cells.
Tata Tiago EV in Detroit, Michigan: common questions
Can I drop off a Tata Tiago EV battery at Detroit, Michigan?
Yes, by appointment. Detroit — Michigan Closed-Loop Plant accepts whole Tata Tiago EV packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Tata Tiago EV modules after Detroit, Michigan?
Intake at Detroit, Michigan, then Graded at Atlanta, Georgia, then Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden, then Refined at Reno, Nevada. At 80% SOH roughly 56% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Tata Tiago EV pack be prepared for pickup?
Pull the service disconnect and record pack voltage. Drain or cap coolant lines before lifting. Photograph the pack casing and any impact damage. Keep the VIN and pack serial together on the manifest.
Which rules apply to Tata Tiago EV 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 Detroit, Michigan
Tata Tiago EV at other sites
Retiring Tata Tiago EV packs near Detroit, Michigan?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.