The Hidden Industry Powering India’s EV Dreams Isn’t What You Think

Image Source : LOHUM

India’s electric vehicle boom is creating a new challenge: what to do with all those used batteries. As early EVs hit the end of their battery life, a growing number of startups and recyclers are stepping in to turn waste into opportunity.

Why This Matters Now

EV sales are climbing fast, and so is the volume of retired lithiumion batteries
These batteries contain valuable metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel—but they’re also toxic if dumped carelessly
Recycling can recover up to 95% of these materials, cutting down on imports and environmental damage

Who’s Leading the Charge

Attero Recycling is scaling up lithium recovery and exporting recycled metals
Lohum Cleantech is giving old batteries a second life and reprocessing lithium
Gravita India is expanding from lead to lithium recycling with global partnerships
Metastable Materials is using green chemistry to recycle batteries with fewer emissions

What’s Changing Behind the Scenes

New tech like hydrometallurgy and AIpowered sorting is making recycling cleaner and more efficient
Government rules now require manufacturers to take responsibility for battery disposal
Foreign investors and automakers are backing recycling startups to secure supply chains

The Road Ahead

India still faces hurdles—informal recycling is common, and regulations vary by state. But with rising demand, policy support, and better tech, the country is quietly building a circular economy around EV batteries.

Sources: Shakti HiTech, Economic Times Auto, All India EV, Manufacturing Today India, WRI India, ICEAAccenture Report, India Business Trade