Tesla Model S Plaid battery recycling in Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne — Victoria Collection 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
12,000 TPA
Reverse Logistics Yard
Cities served
2
From Melbourne, Victoria
Where a Tesla Model S Plaid 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 16 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). Selective — only low-swell pouch stacks above 82% SOH are cleared for 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 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 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
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 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 S Plaid in Melbourne, Victoria: common questions
Can I drop off a Tesla Model S Plaid battery at Melbourne, Victoria?
Yes, by appointment. Melbourne — Victoria Collection 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 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 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 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 S Plaid at other sites
Other passenger packs at Melbourne, Victoria
Retiring Tesla Model S Plaid 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.