What’s really happening in india’s Li-on battery recycling space?

In a time when countries worldwide are committed to achieving their respective net zero emissions targets, the state of the sustainable electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem seems to be stagnant. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge the urgency felt by many nations to address this issue once and for all.

In August of last year, the Indian government introduced the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, aiming to promote environmentally friendly management of waste batteries across various industries, including EVs. These new regulations hold the different stakeholders in the EV ecosystem accountable for recycling the batteries.

Under the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), battery producers and importers are now responsible for collecting and recycling/refurbishing waste batteries, as well as utilizing recovered materials for the production of new batteries.

However, industry experts express uncertainty about the extent to which these initiatives are being implemented at the grassroots level. Currently, the primary focus in the country lies in increasing the number of EVs on Indian roads, with the central and state governments continually introducing new and improved EV policies.

This heightened focus has resulted in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing startups receiving considerable attention, while the stakeholders involved in battery recycling startups are somewhat overlooked in this race.

Nonetheless, the establishment of a robust ecosystem to facilitate the recycling of lithium-ion batteries remains crucial in achieving the country’s net zero emissions goals and reducing dependence on lithium imports from China or other lithium-rich nations.

It is worth noting that lithium-ion batteries, which consist largely of lithium, cobalt, nickel, bauxite, manganese, aluminum, and natural graphite, can recover approximately 95% of valuable materials. However, global studies indicate that a staggering 95% of lithium-ion batteries currently end up in landfills, with only 5% being recycled and reused.

According to a report by JMK Research, the annual Li-ion battery market in India is projected to reach 132 GWh by 2030. This significant increase in volume will result in a rise of “spent” batteries within the ecosystem, which, if left unattended, could pose health and environmental hazards.

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