Tesla Model 3 Long Range battery recycling in Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne — Victoria Collection Yard takes whole Tesla Model 3 Long Range 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
3,515 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
12,000 TPA
Reverse Logistics Yard
Cities served
2
From Melbourne, Victoria
Where a Tesla Model 3 Long Range pack goes from Melbourne, Victoria
- 1
Intake at Melbourne, Victoria
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 Tuas, Singapore
Modules travel 6,072 km to Singapore — Tuas Diagnostics Hub for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 4 modules.
- 3
Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden
At 80% SOH about 47% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus (15,980 km). Good — grade-A modules above 80% SOH qualify for commercial-scale BESS strings.
- 4
Refined at Ningde, Fujian
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Ningde — Fujian Refining Base, 7,644 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | Singapore — Tuas Diagnostics Hub | 6,072 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 15,980 km |
| Nearest refinery | Ningde — Fujian Refining Base | 7,644 km |
Inside the Tesla Model 3 Long Range battery
The Tesla Model 3 Long Range (2019) carries a 75 kWh NMC 811 Cylindrical 2170 pack with 4 modules at 350 V, weighing roughly 420 kg. High-nickel cylindrical cells with the strongest hydrometallurgical recovery credit per tonne of black mass.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 95.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,718 |
| Year 4 | 90.9% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,531 |
| Year 6 | 86.6% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,345 |
| Year 8 | 82.3% | B — Second life | USD 3,780 |
| Year 10 | 78% | B — Second life | USD 3,308 |
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 Tesla Model 3 Long Range pack
75 kWh, 4 modules, about 420 kg — this is how the Melbourne, Victoria 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
Melbourne, Victoria site notes
- Declare chemistry and state of charge at booking.
- Storage installers can book collections.
- Damaged units require special handling.
- Consolidated loads reduce transport cost.
What this pack yields
lithium
4.27 kg
nickel
27.55 kg
cobalt
3.41 kg
manganese
3.17 kg
copper
13.65 kg
aluminium
11.46 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in Australia
Product Stewardship Act 2011 and state waste legislation
Regulator: DCCEEW (federal) and state EPAs
The yard operates under Victorian environmental rules administered by EPA Victoria and national battery stewardship arrangements. Transport follows the Australian Dangerous Goods Code.
Tesla Model 3 Long Range in Melbourne, Victoria: common questions
Can I drop off a Tesla Model 3 Long Range battery at Melbourne, Victoria?
Yes, by appointment. Melbourne — Victoria Collection Yard accepts whole Tesla Model 3 Long Range packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Tesla Model 3 Long Range modules after Melbourne, Victoria?
Intake at Melbourne, Victoria, then Graded at Tuas, Singapore, then Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden, then Refined at Ningde, Fujian. At 80% SOH roughly 47% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Tesla Model 3 Long Range 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 Tesla Model 3 Long Range recycling in Australia?
Product Stewardship Act 2011 and state waste legislation, overseen by DCCEEW (federal) and state EPAs. Road movements follow the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, with lithium-ion batteries shipped as Class 9 under UN 3480 or UN 3481.
Cities collected by Melbourne, Victoria
Tesla Model 3 Long Range at other sites
Other passenger packs at Melbourne, Victoria
Retiring Tesla Model 3 Long Range packs near Melbourne, Victoria?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.