Tesla Model Y Long Range battery recycling in Tuas, Singapore
Tuas, Singapore is a diagnostics site: Tesla Model Y Long Range packs arrive here from intake yards for module-level capacity, resistance and impedance testing, which decides reuse or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
3,656 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
18,000 TPA
Cell Grading & Diagnostics
Cities served
1
From Tuas, Singapore
Where a Tesla Model Y Long Range pack goes from Tuas, Singapore
- 1
Collected via Ulsan, South Korea
Whole packs enter the network at Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus, 4,637 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Module grading at Tuas, Singapore
All 4 modules are tested for capacity, DC resistance and impedance, then assigned grade A to D.
- 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 (9,976 km). Good — grade-A modules above 80% SOH qualify for commercial-scale BESS strings.
- 4
Refined at Ningde, Fujian
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Ningde — Fujian Refining Base, 3,291 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus | 4,637 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Zwickau — Saxony Second-Life Works | 9,976 km |
| Nearest refinery | Ningde — Fujian Refining Base | 3,291 km |
Faster option
Inside the Tesla Model Y Long Range battery
The Tesla Model Y Long Range (2020) carries a 78 kWh NMC 811 Cylindrical 2170 pack with 4 modules at 355 V, weighing roughly 437 kg. High-nickel cylindrical cells with the strongest hydrometallurgical recovery credit per tonne of black mass.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 95.5% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,920 |
| Year 4 | 91.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,726 |
| Year 6 | 86.9% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,532 |
| Year 8 | 82.6% | B — Second life | USD 3,969 |
| Year 10 | 78.3% | B — Second life | USD 3,471 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
NMC 811 loses capacity through a mix of SEI growth, cathode surface reconstruction and micro-cracking of nickel-rich particles. Resistance climbs faster than in LFP, which matters as much as capacity for second-life duty.
Thermal behaviour
High-nickel NMC cathodes release oxygen as they decompose, so once runaway starts it is fast and energetic. Cylindrical 2170 cells vent through a designed rupture point, which helps, but cell-to-cell propagation inside a tightly packed module is the main hazard.
Handling NMC 811 (2170)
Collecting a Tesla Model Y Long Range pack
78 kWh, 4 modules, about 437 kg — this is how the Tuas, Singapore 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
Tuas, Singapore site notes
- Regional shipments require import permits.
- Provide serial lists.
- Damaged packs need declaration.
- Fleet pickups can be arranged.
What this pack yields
lithium
4.44 kg
nickel
28.66 kg
cobalt
3.55 kg
manganese
3.3 kg
copper
14.2 kg
aluminium
11.92 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in Singapore
Resource Sustainability Act 2019 and the Environmental Protection and Management Act
Regulator: National Environment Agency (NEA)
The hub operates under Singapore National Environment Agency requirements, including its producer responsibility scheme for e-waste. International shipments follow Basel Convention procedures where applicable.
Tesla Model Y Long Range in Tuas, Singapore: common questions
Can I drop off a Tesla Model Y Long Range battery at Tuas, Singapore?
Tuas, Singapore is a cell grading & diagnostics and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Ulsan, South Korea, 4,637 km away.
What happens to Tesla Model Y Long Range modules after Tuas, Singapore?
Collected via Ulsan, South Korea, then Module grading at Tuas, Singapore, then Second life at Zwickau, Saxony, 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 Y Long Range 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 Long Range recycling in Singapore?
Resource Sustainability Act 2019 and the Environmental Protection and Management Act, overseen by National Environment Agency (NEA). Dangerous goods movements follow SCDF and MPA requirements, with frequent sea transhipment under the IMDG Code.
Cities collected by Tuas, Singapore
Tesla Model Y Long Range at other sites
Retiring Tesla Model Y Long Range packs near Tuas, Singapore?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.