Tata Xpres-T EV battery recycling in Narela, Delhi
Delhi — Narela Collection Yard takes whole Tata Xpres-T EV packs straight from fleets, dealers and workshops. Packs are weighed, de-energised and logged here before modules move on for grading or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
689 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
12,000 TPA
Reverse Logistics Yard
Cities served
0
From Narela, Delhi
Where a Tata Xpres-T EV pack goes from Narela, Delhi
- 1
Intake at Narela, Delhi
Each pack travels in a rated crate or on a restrained pallet, with coolant drained and ports sealed. Each pack is weighed, photographed and discharged below 30% state of charge.
- 2
Graded at Gurugram, Haryana
Modules travel 48 km to NCR — Gurugram Collection & Grading Hub for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 8 modules.
- 3
Second life at Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab
At 80% SOH about 56% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Ludhiana — Mandi Gobindgarh Second-Life Works (257 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refined at Haldia, West Bengal
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Kolkata — Haldia Refining Works, 1,337 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | NCR — Gurugram Collection & Grading Hub | 48 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Ludhiana — Mandi Gobindgarh Second-Life Works | 257 km |
| Nearest refinery | Kolkata — Haldia Refining Works | 1,337 km |
Inside the Tata Xpres-T EV battery
The Tata Xpres-T EV (2021) carries a 21.5 kWh LFP Prismatic (LiFePO4) pack with 8 modules at 300 V, weighing roughly 159 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 | 96.1% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,127 |
| Year 4 | 93% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,091 |
| Year 6 | 89.9% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,056 |
| Year 8 | 86.8% | A — BESS ready | USD 1,020 |
| Year 10 | 83.7% | B — Second life | USD 867 |
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 Xpres-T EV pack
21.5 kWh, 8 modules, about 159 kg — this is how the Narela, Delhi 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
Narela, Delhi site notes
- Delhi goods-vehicle timing restrictions apply, so pickups are booked into permitted entry windows.
- Aggregators should present each load with unit counts and declared chemistry to speed weighbridge intake.
- E-rickshaw batteries need protected terminals and must be secured so they cannot shift in transit.
- Damaged units go directly to the quarantine area and are logged separately.
What this pack yields
lithium
1.59 kg
nickel
0 kg
cobalt
0 kg
manganese
0 kg
copper
4.82 kg
aluminium
5.76 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in India
Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 (BWMR)
Regulator: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards
The yard operates under Delhi Pollution Control Committee consent and within the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022. Aggregators delivering to Narela are expected to hold the registrations the rules require of them, and the yard's unit-level records support producers' EPR reporting further down the chain.
Tata Xpres-T EV in Narela, Delhi: common questions
Can I drop off a Tata Xpres-T EV battery at Narela, Delhi?
Yes, by appointment. Delhi — Narela Collection Yard accepts whole Tata Xpres-T EV packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Tata Xpres-T EV modules after Narela, Delhi?
Intake at Narela, Delhi, then Graded at Gurugram, Haryana, then Second life at Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab, then Refined at Haldia, West Bengal. At 80% SOH roughly 56% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Tata Xpres-T 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 Xpres-T EV recycling in India?
Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 (BWMR), overseen by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards. Retired packs move as hazardous goods by road under central motor vehicle rules, and export needs Basel-compliant permissions.
Tata Xpres-T EV at other sites
Other commercial fleet packs at Narela, Delhi
Retiring Tata Xpres-T EV packs near Narela, Delhi?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.