By Yashraj Bhardwaj, Co-Founder & CSO, Plannex Recycling
India’s EV market is racing ahead — nearly 2 million EVs were sold in 2024, with sales projected to push the industry to USD 113.99 billion by 2029. But as the country speeds into an electric future, one critical question looms large: what happens to the millions of EV batteries once their drive ends?
Here are six ways India can transform EV battery waste into a circular economy opportunity:
1. Embrace Second-Life Applications
Even after their performance drops below 70–80 percent, EV batteries still carry significant storage potential. Repurposing them for solar power systems, grid stabilisation, or even backup power solutions can stretch their useful life by years before recycling becomes necessary. This approach not only reduces waste but also supports India’s renewable energy and rural development goals.
2. Scale Up Domestic Recycling Capacity
India currently processes only about 2,750 metric tonnes of EV battery waste in three years, a negligible amount compared to the volumes expected later this decade. With millions of batteries set to retire between 2026 and 2030, scaling up domestic recycling infrastructure across states will be crucial. Without this expansion, India risks a flood of unmanaged battery waste and a missed opportunity to extract valuable resources.
3. Leverage EPR for Accountability
The Battery Waste Management Rules of 2022 have introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), placing the onus on manufacturers to collect and recycle end-of-life batteries. This regulatory mechanism is a game-changer because it makes sustainability a shared responsibility between industry and consumers. By enforcing accountability, India can avoid unsafe informal recycling practices and ensure batteries are properly channelled back into the supply chain.
4. Invest in Advanced Recovery Technologies
New recovery processes such as hydrometallurgical and direct recycling can reclaim up to 95 percent of valuable metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Indian firms such as Attero, Lohum, and Metastable Materials are at the forefront, demonstrating that recycling can be both environmentally sustainable and commercially viable. Expanding investment in these technologies will reduce reliance on imports while creating a high-tech domestic recycling ecosystem.
5. Strengthen OEM-Led Circularity
Automakers are beginning to recognize that their responsibility extends beyond the sale of vehicles. Companies such as Tata Motors, Mahindra Electric, Ola, Hyundai, and MG are launching take-back programs and reverse logistics models to ensure traceability across the battery lifecycle. By embedding circularity into their business models, OEMs are building consumer trust and setting new benchmarks for responsible growth in the EV industry.
6. Turn Waste into Wealth through Circular Innovation
India must go beyond compliance and treat battery waste as a strategic resource. Standardisation of battery designs, support for start-ups in recycling and traceability solutions, and workforce skilling in safe dismantling and reuse practices can unlock new value streams. A thriving recycling sector can not only manage waste but also create jobs, lower import bills, and position India as a global leader in circular economy innovation.
The Road Ahead
As India powers ahead in EV adoption, responsible battery afterlife management will define whether this revolution is truly green. By building ecosystems around reuse, repurposing, and recycling, India can transform battery waste from an environmental challenge into an engine for sustainable growth and energy security. The EV afterlife, if managed right, can be the foundation of India’s clean mobility future.
