EVBatteryRecycling
Guide · Fleet & OEM Strategy

How to Recycle a Tata Punch EV Battery Pack: Value, Process and Paperwork

A workshop-level walkthrough of decommissioning, grading and recovering value from the 35 kWh LFP Prismatic pack fitted to the Tata Punch EV.

DO

Daniel Okafor

Reverse Logistics Lead

3 min read Updated 2025-12-15
OEM and recycler engineers inspecting a battery pack together on a workbench

The short answer

A Tata Punch EV battery pack (35 kWh, LFP Prismatic, 330 V, 12 modules) is recycled in four steps: safe discharge and hazmat transport, module-level state-of-health testing, second-life reuse of modules above 75% capacity, and hydrometallurgical refining of the remainder. At 80% SOH the pack is worth roughly USD 1,121 on a hybrid split route.

On this page6 sections

Key takeaways

  1. 1The Tata Punch EV pack weighs about 259 kg and holds 12 serviceable modules.
  2. 2At 80% state of health it is worth around USD 1,121, mostly via hybrid split.
  3. 3Passenger packs need rated lifting and palletised packaging for collection.
  4. 4Certificates are issued for EPR filing under India's Battery Waste Management Rules 2022.
01

What is inside the Tata Punch EV battery pack

The Tata Punch EV carries a 35 kWh pack built from LFP Prismatic (LiFePO4) cells arranged in 12 serviceable modules at a nominal 330 V. Pack mass lands near 259 kg including the enclosure, cooling plate, contactors and BMS harness.

Because the cells are LFP Prismatic, the recoverable value profile is dominated by lithium, copper and aluminium rather than nickel and cobalt. That decides whether a retired pack is worth repurposing, refining, or both.

ParameterValue
ChemistryLFP Prismatic (LiFePO4)
Cell formatPrismatic hard case
Energy / voltage35 kWh · 330 V
Modules12
Estimated pack mass259 kg
On sale since2024 (India)
Tata Punch EV pack specification used for grading and valuation.
02

Step 1 — Removing and shipping a passenger pack

Packs are dropped on a vehicle lift using the OEM procedure and a rated battery table, then isolated at the service disconnect. Retired packs are UN 3480 or UN 3481 dangerous goods, so the pack must be below 30% state of charge and any deformation, swelling or thermal history declared before pickup.

One pack per UN-rated pallet box, strapped and restrained, with terminals capped and coolant ports sealed. Dealer and workshop returns are consolidated into full truckloads, typically eight or more packs per run.

  • 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
03

Step 2 — Module-level state of health grading

Each of the 12 modules is tested independently — a whole-pack SOH figure hides the spread that decides second-life eligibility. We run a full capacity cycle, DC internal resistance measurement and impedance spectroscopy.

Our degradation model for the Tata Punch EV shows how value falls with age. Measured results replace these estimates once the pack is on the bench.

Service yearModelled SOHGradeResidual value
Year 296.1%A — BESS readyUSD 1,834
Year 493%A — BESS readyUSD 1,776
Year 689.9%A — BESS readyUSD 1,718
Year 886.8%A — BESS readyUSD 1,660
Year 1083.7%B — Second lifeUSD 1,411
Modelled state of health and residual value for the Tata Punch EV pack.
04

Step 3 — What you actually recover

For modules routed to refining, a pack of this size and chemistry typically yields about 5.8 kg lithium, 0.0 kg nickel, 0.0 kg cobalt and 17.7 kg copper.

At 80% SOH our model sends about 56% of the pack to second life, worth USD 902, and credits USD 219 for the remainder as black mass. Avoided emissions come to roughly 1,566 kg CO2.

Field note

Use the yield calculator with the pack's measured SOH to see the exact split for your Tata Punch EV units.
05

Step 4 — Where to send it and what paperwork you get

Tata Punch EV packs are received directly at 8 intake sites in its markets, including Chakan, Maharashtra, Sanand, Gujarat, Taloja, Maharashtra, Narela, Delhi. From there, modules move to the nearest grading bench and refinery.

Every consignment closes with a certificate showing quantity processed, recovery percentages achieved and downstream vendor disclosure, in the form needed for CPCB EPR filings under the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022. Fleets retiring several Tata Punch EV units should book one consolidated pickup to cut per-pack cost.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is a used Tata Punch EV battery worth anything?

Yes. At 80% state of health our model values the pack near USD 1,121. Value depends on measured module health, chemistry and physical condition rather than vehicle age alone.

How long does Tata Punch EV battery recycling take?

From pickup to certificate, a standard consignment takes 10 to 21 working days: 2–4 days transport, 3–5 days module grading, and the balance in disassembly and refining feed preparation.

Can a Tata Punch EV pack be reused instead of recycled?

Modules holding 75% or more of rated capacity are repurposed into stationary storage. For a 35 kWh pack, that commonly means 7 of 12 modules find a second life. Excellent — long calendar life makes LFP the preferred feedstock for stationary BESS repurposing.

How should I prepare a Tata Punch EV pack for collection?

Pull the service disconnect and record pack voltage. Drain or cap coolant lines before lifting. Photograph the pack casing and any impact damage. Declare any damage on the manifest so the right packaging is sent.

Turn this into a plan for your packs

Send pack counts, chemistry and approximate state of health. You get an indicative value split, a slotted collection window and pre-filled dangerous goods paperwork.

Run the yield calculator
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