Tesla Model S Plaid battery recycling in Dubai, UAE
Dubai — Jebel Ali Logistics Yard takes whole Tesla Model S Plaid 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
4,366 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
14,000 TPA
Reverse Logistics Yard
Cities served
1
From Dubai, UAE
Where a Tesla Model S Plaid pack goes from Dubai, UAE
- 1
Intake at Dubai, UAE
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 Warsaw, Mazovia
Modules travel 4,157 km to Warsaw — Mazovia Grading Centre for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 16 modules.
- 3
Second life at Zwickau, Saxony
At 80% SOH about 47% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works (4,604 km). Selective — only low-swell pouch stacks above 82% SOH are cleared for repurposing.
- 4
Refined at Lyon, France
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Lyon — Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Refinery, 5,003 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest grading bench | Warsaw — Mazovia Grading Centre | 4,157 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works | 4,604 km |
| Nearest refinery | Lyon — Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Refinery | 5,003 km |
Inside the Tesla Model S Plaid battery
The Tesla Model S Plaid (2021) carries a 100 kWh NCA Pouch pack with 16 modules at 400 V, weighing roughly 540 kg. Premium nickel-cobalt pouch stacks with the highest recovery credit and the strictest safety handling class.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 95.3% | A — BESS ready | USD 5,456 |
| Year 4 | 91% | A — BESS ready | USD 5,248 |
| Year 6 | 86.7% | A — BESS ready | USD 5,039 |
| Year 8 | 82.4% | B — Second life | USD 4,580 |
| Year 10 | 78.1% | B — Second life | USD 4,220 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
NCA can deliver long life when it is kept in a moderate state-of-charge window, but it is sensitive to high voltage and heat. Swelling from gas generation is a common retirement signal in pouch formats.
Thermal behaviour
NCA shares the oxygen-release behaviour of high-nickel cathodes and is generally considered among the more reactive EV chemistries. Pouch cells have no rigid can, so mechanical damage and swelling translate quickly into safety risk.
Handling NCA Pouch
Collecting a Tesla Model S Plaid pack
100 kWh, 16 modules, about 540 kg — this is how the Dubai, UAE 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
Dubai, UAE site notes
- Collections are scheduled to avoid peak heat.
- Export shipments need prior approvals.
- Declare damage in advance.
- Packs are kept in cooled storage.
What this pack yields
lithium
5.33 kg
nickel
38.87 kg
cobalt
6.43 kg
manganese
0.63 kg
copper
20.22 kg
aluminium
12.85 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in United Arab Emirates
Federal Law No. 12 of 2018 on Integrated Waste Management
Regulator: Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, with emirate-level authorities
The yard operates under UAE federal and Dubai environmental rules and free zone requirements. International shipments follow applicable waste and dangerous goods rules, including Basel Convention procedures where relevant.
Tesla Model S Plaid in Dubai, UAE: common questions
Can I drop off a Tesla Model S Plaid battery at Dubai, UAE?
Yes, by appointment. Dubai — Jebel Ali Logistics Yard accepts whole Tesla Model S Plaid packs; book a collection or a drop-off slot so the site can prepare packaging and paperwork.
What happens to Tesla Model S Plaid modules after Dubai, UAE?
Intake at Dubai, UAE, then Graded at Warsaw, Mazovia, then Second life at Zwickau, Saxony, then Refined at Lyon, France. At 80% SOH roughly 47% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Tesla Model S Plaid 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 S Plaid recycling in United Arab Emirates?
Federal Law No. 12 of 2018 on Integrated Waste Management, overseen by Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, with emirate-level authorities. Dangerous goods transport follows federal and emirate rules, with frequent re-export by sea through Jebel Ali.
Cities collected by Dubai, UAE
Tesla Model S Plaid at other sites
Retiring Tesla Model S Plaid packs near Dubai, UAE?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.