Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) battery recycling in Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne — Victoria Collection Yard takes whole Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) 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
1,922 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
56%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
12,000 TPA
Reverse Logistics Yard
Cities served
2
From Melbourne, Victoria
Where a Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) 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 56% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus (15,980 km). Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.
- 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 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 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
4.45 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 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 Standard (LFP) in Melbourne, Victoria: common questions
Can I drop off a Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) battery at Melbourne, Victoria?
Yes, by appointment. Melbourne — Victoria Collection 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 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 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 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 Standard (LFP) at other sites
Other passenger packs at Melbourne, Victoria
Retiring Tesla Model 3 Standard (LFP) 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.