LICO Materials, Ather Energy Partner on End-of-Life EV Battery Recycling

LICO Materials and Ather Energy have entered into a partnership to develop a system for the collection, recycling and recovery of materials from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries used in electric two-wheelers. Under the arrangement, batteries from Ather's fleet will be processed at LICO Materials' recycling facility in Karnataka, with recovered materials reintroduced into the battery supply chain for use by cell manufacturers and automotive OEMs.

The initiative is aimed at creating a circular supply chain for critical battery materials, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and copper, as electric vehicle adoption in India continues to grow. According to the companies, the recovered materials will be made available for manufacturing new battery cells and electric vehicles.

India currently depends on imports for key battery minerals, exposing the industry to supply chain risks, price fluctuations and geopolitical uncertainties. LICO Materials said its recycling facility is capable of recovering up to 95% of materials from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, allowing them to be reintroduced into the battery ecosystem.

The partnership is also aligned with the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, which mandate extended producer responsibility across the battery value chain. The companies cited industry projections indicating that battery recycling could meet more than 40% of India's lithium, nickel and cobalt requirements by 2050 while supporting job creation and reducing carbon emissions.

"Our partnership means end-of-life batteries can be recycled and the recovered minerals can be fed back into the battery supply chain, helping reduce dependence on imported critical materials," said Gaurav Dolwani, CEO, LICO Materials.