Unlocking the Circular Future: The Strategic Imperative of EV Battery Recycling

As India accelerates toward a cleaner, more electrified future, lithium-ion batteries have emerged as the beating heart of the energy transition. From scooters and buses to grid storage and smartphones, these batteries power the movement toward sustainable energy and mobility. But the silent question looms large—what happens when these batteries reach the end of their first life?

At LOHUM, we believe the answer lies in a powerful opportunity that transforms a challenge into value: recycling of EV batteries in India. More than a necessity, battery recycling is a strategic lever to achieve sustainability, resource independence, and economic resilience.

Why Recycling Can’t Wait

The world is entering a new industrial era, one defined by clean energy technologies and resource efficiency. However, the current supply of mined materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel is increasingly outpaced by demand. According to projections, by 2030, over 2 million metric tonnes of lithium-ion batteries are expected to retire every year globally. In India alone, the accelerated EV adoption trajectory implies that the volume of spent batteries could exceed 50 GWh annually in the next decade.

Establishing new mining operations is time-consuming, environmentally challenging, and fraught with geopolitical dependencies. In contrast, recycling offers a compelling alternative—an urban mining ecosystem that delivers economic value, environmental benefits, and strategic autonomy.

This is where LOHUM is leading from the front.

LOHUM's Vision: Extending Life, Creating Value

At LOHUM, we don’t see end-of-life batteries as waste; we see them as an untapped resource with latent potential. The concept of lithium ion battery end-of-life value is central to our innovation philosophy.

A lithium-ion battery doesn’t suddenly lose all utility when its performance dips below 80% of its rated capacity—it simply transitions into a new phase. Through repurposing and second-life applications, these batteries can serve another 6 to 10 years in stationary energy storage, supporting solar energy systems, microgrids, and backup power.

But when reuse is no longer viable, recycling becomes the next critical pathway. Unlike traditional recycling processes that often lead to loss of valuable minerals and high carbon emissions, LOHUM is pioneering low-impact, high-yield recycling technologies. Our proprietary processes enable the direct regeneration of cathode materials, conserving up to 95% of their original structure and performance characteristics.

The Science That Powers Sustainability

Conventional methods like pyrometallurgy rely on smelting at high temperatures (~1500°C), leading to energy-intensive operations and toxic byproducts. In contrast, hydrometallurgical and direct recycling approaches—such as those explored by recent breakthroughs—offer cleaner, scalable alternatives.

A pivotal study recently published in Joule found that batteries made from directly recycled cathodes not only matched the performance of new batteries but in some cases lasted longer and charged faster due to their more porous microstructures.

This is the future LOHUM is building—a closed-loop system where every battery component is recovered, refined, and reintroduced into the manufacturing cycle. Our processes also minimize international transportation needs, reducing carbon footprint and fostering a robust domestic supply chain for battery materials.

Why India Must Lead the Circular Battery Economy

India’s strategic ambition to become a global battery manufacturing hub cannot be fulfilled through mining alone. The country must invest in developing domestic recycling infrastructure, supported by progressive policy and innovation.

Globally, 60% of cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where sourcing issues are intertwined with conflict and unethical labor practices. By contrast, battery recycling in India can reduce reliance on vulnerable supply chains, enhance energy security, and cut costs for EV manufacturers.

Despite the rapid fall in new battery prices over the last decade (a drop of over 90%), the mineral cost component still constitutes up to 50% of a lithium-ion battery’s total cost. Recovering these materials locally through recycling of EV batteries in India is both an environmental imperative and a competitive advantage.

Policy and Infrastructure: The Enablers

LOHUM actively supports and aligns with emerging policies such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), standardized labeling, and battery passporting. As California targets 100% battery reuse or recycling, India too must strengthen its regulatory frameworks to encourage collection, sorting, and safe disposal.

Investment in automation, robotic disassembly, and AI-led battery diagnostics can drastically reduce processing costs and safety risks. These are areas where LOHUM continues to innovate, driven by our commitment to circularity, transparency, and trust.

The LOHUM Way Forward

The question is no longer if we should recycle but how well we can do it. At LOHUM, we’re answering that with action:

  • India’s first integrated battery life cycle company offering reuse, recycling, and refined materials manufacturing under one roof
  • Advanced cathode-to-cathode recycling that retains critical crystal structures and maximizes value
  • Partnerships with global OEMs, policymakers, and research institutions to scale sustainable battery ecosystems

Our goal is to decarbonize 5 million metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions by 2026 through circular battery solutions.

Final Thought: A Battery's End Is Just the Beginning

The shift to EVs and renewable energy isn't just about what powers us—it's about how we power sustainably. With innovation, intent, and infrastructure, we can transform used batteries from a looming waste challenge into a valuable asset for India’s energy future.

At LOHUM, we are not just recycling batteries—we are reimagining value, rebuilding materials, and renewing trust in a cleaner tomorrow.

Visit us at: Salvage Value for li-ion battery

Originally published on: Medium

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