Ather Energy, LICO Materials to recycle EV batteries in India

In a significant step towards strengthening India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, integrated battery circularity company LICO Materials has partnered with electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ather Energy to develop a comprehensive system for recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.

Under the agreement, batteries retired from Ather Energy’s EV fleet will be processed at LICO Materials’ recycling facility in Karnataka. The initiative aims to recover critical materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and copper, which will then be reintroduced into the battery supply chain for use by cell manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The collaboration comes at a time when India’s EV market is witnessing rapid expansion, intensifying the need for robust recycling infrastructure to manage battery waste while reducing dependence on imported raw materials.

“India is building one of the world’s largest EV fleets without domestic reserves of the minerals that power it. That is a structural vulnerability, and battery circularity is the only answer,” said, Gaurav Dolwani, CEO, LICO Materials.

Ather Energy also said that that the partnership with LICO Materials is designed to establish a structured and scalable process for battery collection, recycling, and material recovery, particularly as the number of electric two-wheelers on Indian roads continues to grow.

Recently, LICO Materials secured a Rs 25 crore grant from the Ministry of Mines under the government’s incentive scheme aimed at promoting critical mineral recycling.

India currently relies heavily on imports for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt, exposing the sector to supply chain disruptions, geopolitical risks, and price volatility.

The government’s Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR), 2022 mandate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is prompting OEMs to actively collaborate with domestic recyclers. The travesty is that as per one estimate, India currently recycles only about 1% of its end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. Although, the battery waste is projected to reach 128 GWh by 2030.