Tesla Model S Plaid battery recycling in Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh does not take whole packs. It receives black mass made from Tesla Model S Plaid modules that failed grading, and turns it into battery-grade salts.
Pack value at 80% SOH
4,366 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
13,000 TPA
Hydrometallurgical Refinery
Cities served
0
From Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Where a Tesla Model S Plaid pack goes from Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
- 1
Collected via Khordha, Odisha
Whole packs enter the network at Bhubaneswar — Khordha Collection Yard, 411 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Graded at Hosur, Tamil Nadu
Modules travel 761 km to Bengaluru — Hosur Diagnostics Centre for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 16 modules.
- 3
Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra
At 80% SOH about 47% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works (558 km). Selective — only low-swell pouch stacks above 82% SOH are cleared for repurposing.
- 4
Refining at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Black mass from failed modules is leached and refined here into battery-grade nickel, cobalt and lithium salts.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Bhubaneswar — Khordha Collection Yard | 411 km |
| Nearest grading bench | Bengaluru — Hosur Diagnostics Centre | 761 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works | 558 km |
Faster option
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 Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh 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
Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh site notes
- Only black mass and cathode scrap are accepted at this site.
- Bulk bags must be sealed, labelled and accompanied by declared chemistry.
- Port-linked consignments need documentation before arrival.
- Sampling at intake determines settlement; results are shared with the consignor.
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 India
Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 (BWMR)
Regulator: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards
The refinery operates under Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board consent, with conditions covering effluent treatment, air emissions and hazardous chemical storage. As a registered recycler it generates recovery evidence for producers under the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, and port-linked movements follow customs and applicable waste-shipment controls.
Tesla Model S Plaid in Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh: common questions
Can I drop off a Tesla Model S Plaid battery at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh?
Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh is a hydrometallurgical refinery and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Khordha, Odisha, 411 km away.
What happens to Tesla Model S Plaid modules after Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh?
Collected via Khordha, Odisha, then Graded at Hosur, Tamil Nadu, then Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra, then Refining at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh. 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 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.
Tesla Model S Plaid at other sites
Other passenger packs at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Retiring Tesla Model S Plaid packs near Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.