Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) battery recycling in Sanand, Gujarat
The Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) is not sold in India, so packs reach Sanand, Gujarat 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
1,922 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
21,000 TPA
Reverse Logistics Yard
Cities served
7
From Sanand, Gujarat
Where a Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) pack goes from Sanand, Gujarat
- 1
Intake at Sanand, Gujarat
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 Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh
Modules travel 341 km to Indore — Pithampur Grading Plant for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 4 modules.
- 3
Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra
At 80% SOH about 56% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works (714 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 4
Refined at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Visakhapatnam — Atchutapuram Refinery, 1,249 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | Indore — Pithampur Grading Plant | 341 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works | 714 km |
| Nearest refinery | Visakhapatnam — Atchutapuram Refinery | 1,249 km |
Faster option
Inside the Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) battery
The Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) (2021) carries a 60 kWh LFP Prismatic (LiFePO4) pack with 4 modules at 355 V, weighing roughly 444 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 | 95.5% | A — BESS ready | USD 3,125 |
| Year 4 | 92.4% | A — BESS ready | USD 3,026 |
| Year 6 | 89.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 2,927 |
| Year 8 | 86.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 2,784 |
| Year 10 | 83.1% | B — Second life | USD 2,334 |
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 Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) pack
60 kWh, 4 modules, about 444 kg — this is how the Sanand, Gujarat 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
Sanand, Gujarat site notes
- Plants in Sanand GIDC can align scheduled pickups with their shift patterns to avoid blocking loading docks.
- Ask for UN-approved containers at booking if you do not hold your own; they are delivered before the collection date.
- Declare state of charge; packs above 30% SOC are discharged at the yard before they are forwarded.
- Damaged packs are moved into steel containment immediately on arrival and forwarded under separate paperwork.
What this pack yields
lithium
4.45 kg
nickel
0 kg
cobalt
0 kg
manganese
0 kg
copper
13.46 kg
aluminium
16.06 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 Gujarat Pollution Control Board authorisation for storing and handling battery waste. It sits within the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 chain as a collection and storage point, issuing custody records that follow each unit to the registered recycler that ultimately generates the producer's EPR evidence.
Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) in Sanand, Gujarat: common questions
Can I drop off a Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) battery at Sanand, Gujarat?
Yes, by appointment. Gujarat — Sanand Reverse Logistics Yard accepts whole Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) modules after Sanand, Gujarat?
Intake at Sanand, Gujarat, then Graded at Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, then Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra, then Refined at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh. At 80% SOH roughly 56% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) 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 Standard (LFP) 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.
Cities collected by Sanand, Gujarat
Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) at other sites
Other passenger packs at Sanand, Gujarat
Retiring Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) packs near Sanand, Gujarat?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.