Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) battery recycling in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu does not take whole packs. It receives black mass made from Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) modules that failed grading, and turns it into battery-grade salts.
Pack value at 80% SOH
3,545 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
32,000 TPA
Hydrometallurgical Refinery
Cities served
10
From Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
Where a Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) pack goes from Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
- 1
Collected via Zaheerabad, Telangana
Whole packs enter the network at Hyderabad — Zaheerabad Recovery Campus, 581 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Graded at Hosur, Tamil Nadu
Modules travel 230 km to Bengaluru — Hosur Diagnostics Centre for capacity, resistance and impedance testing across all 3 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 (893 km). Moderate — structural pack bonding limits module harvesting; cell-level grading required.
- 4
Refining at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
Black mass from failed modules is leached and refined here into battery-grade nickel, cobalt and lithium salts.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Hyderabad — Zaheerabad Recovery Campus | 581 km |
| Nearest grading bench | Bengaluru — Hosur Diagnostics Centre | 230 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works | 893 km |
Faster option
Inside the Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) battery
The Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) (2022) carries a 82 kWh NMC 811 Cylindrical 4680 pack with 3 modules at 355 V, weighing roughly 418 kg. Structural tabless format requiring specialised disassembly cells. High nickel yields offset elevated processing cost.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 94.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,607 |
| Year 4 | 89.9% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,425 |
| Year 6 | 85.6% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,162 |
| Year 8 | 81.3% | B — Second life | USD 3,674 |
| Year 10 | 77% | B — Second life | USD 3,281 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
Fade mechanisms mirror other NMC 811 cells. The tabless design lowers internal resistance and heat generation, which can slow resistance growth relative to older cylindrical formats.
Thermal behaviour
4680 cells carry the same high-nickel chemistry as 2170s but in a larger can with more energy per cell, so a single failing cell releases more heat. Structural packs also make it harder to isolate an individual failing cell during handling.
Handling NMC 811 (4680)
Collecting a Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) pack
82 kWh, 3 modules, about 418 kg — this is how the Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu 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
Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu site notes
- Whole packs are not accepted; route them through a grading or integrated campus first and the black mass will follow.
- Black mass must arrive in sealed, labelled bulk bags with an assay report or at least a declared chemistry.
- Deliveries are scheduled against SEZ gate windows, and imported material needs customs paperwork before arrival.
- Moisture above the agreed limit is recorded at the weighbridge and reflected in settlement.
What this pack yields
lithium
4.49 kg
nickel
29.01 kg
cobalt
2.91 kg
manganese
3.03 kg
copper
12.26 kg
aluminium
14.08 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 is permitted by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, with effluent, air emission and hazardous-chemical conditions typical of acid-leaching plants. As a registered recycler under the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, it generates the recovery evidence that producers file on the CPCB EPR portal. Its SEZ location adds customs controls on any imported feed or exported product.
Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu: common questions
Can I drop off a Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) battery at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu?
Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu is a hydrometallurgical refinery and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Zaheerabad, Telangana, 581 km away.
What happens to Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) modules after Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu?
Collected via Zaheerabad, Telangana, then Graded at Hosur, Tamil Nadu, then Second life at Butibori, Maharashtra, then Refining at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. At 80% SOH roughly 47% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) 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 Y (4680 Structural) 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 Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) at other sites
Other passenger packs at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
Retiring Tesla Model Y (4680 Structural) packs near Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.