Powering the Circular Economy: The Future of Lithium Battery Reusing and Recycling at LOHUM

In an era defined by the urgency of climate action and the global shift toward electrified mobility, the future of transportation hinges on one essential component: the lithium-ion battery. From electric scooters and 3-wheelers to buses, trucks, and even planes, the electrification of vehicles is accelerating across sectors. As one of the leading players in India’s sustainable battery value chain, LOHUM is committed to building a closed-loop ecosystem that is both economically viable and environmentally responsible.

With the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) rising exponentially, particularly in emerging markets like India, the challenge of managing battery waste has become increasingly urgent. The answer lies in a circular approach — lithium battery reusing and recycling. At LOHUM, this is not just a strategy; it’s a mission woven into our identity as we engineer the future of clean mobility.

The Growing Need for Circular Battery Solutions

According to market analysts, global EV battery retirements are expected to exceed 2 million metric tonnes annually by 2030. That includes over half a million vehicle batteries each year that will reach the end of their first life. Yet, these batteries are far from useless. Most still retain up to 80% of their capacity and can be repurposed effectively.

A major share of the EV market in India is driven by 3-wheelers, which dominate last-mile logistics and public transport in urban and semi-urban areas. As the market grows, so does the need to manage end-of-life batteries effectively. The 3 wheeler EV battery segment represents a significant opportunity for second-life applications and sustainable recycling.

However, battery recycling is not without its challenges. Traditional methods like pyrometallurgy — involving high temperatures and high emissions — are energy-intensive and inefficient. They result in the loss of critical materials like lithium and aluminum, and often require additional post-processing to recover usable materials.

In contrast, LOHUM is building a smarter path forward.

LOHUM’s Vision: Reuse. Repurpose. Recycle.

LOHUM is India’s first integrated battery lifecycle company, and our vision is clear — to power the transition to a circular battery economy. Our approach encompasses the full spectrum of battery value:

• Reuse and Refurbishment: Our diagnostics and repurposing capabilities ensure that EV batteries, particularly from 3-wheeler platforms, get a second life in less demanding applications like stationary storage.

• Recycling: Through our advanced hydrometallurgical process, we extract high-value materials like cobalt, nickel, and lithium with up to 95% recovery efficiency, significantly reducing reliance on virgin mining and environmental degradation.

• Cathode-to-Cathode Regeneration: Our unique direct recycling technology retains the structure of the cathode material, adding fresh lithium to restore its performance. The result? Cathode materials that not only match but often exceed the quality of those made from newly mined minerals.

Why Reusing and Recycling Makes Sense — Economically and Ecologically

The cost of materials represents nearly 50% of the total lithium-ion battery cost, and the prices of cobalt, nickel, and lithium have fluctuated by as much as 300% in a single year. This volatility underscores the importance of establishing domestic, circular supply chains to reduce dependency on imports and insulate against global shocks.

Moreover, recycling and reusing EV batteries can cut lifecycle emissions by up to 40% compared to manufacturing new batteries from mined resources. This is especially important considering that more than 60% of the world’s cobalt comes from conflict zones like the Democratic Republic of Congo, often associated with environmental harm and human rights issues.

By building India's first full-stack battery circularity platform, LOHUM aims to mitigate these risks while aligning with India’s national EV policy and sustainability goals.

Transforming 3-Wheeler Battery Lifecycles

The dominance of the 3-wheeler EV segment in India provides a scalable pilot model for battery lifecycle innovation. These vehicles, often operating under high daily usage but with predictable charging patterns, are ideal candidates for second-life battery deployment.

After their vehicular use, 3 wheeler EV battery packs can be repurposed for applications like:

• Solar energy storage

• Telecom power backup

• Off-grid electrification

This not only extends the usable life of batteries by 6–10 years but also reduces the pressure on raw material extraction. At LOHUM, we are pioneering such second-life applications with precision, ensuring safety, performance, and economic viability.

Policies and Progress: Building the Infrastructure for Impact

LOHUM is actively working with policymakers and stakeholders to shape the regulatory frameworks necessary to scale battery recycling and reuse. Government-led initiatives in California and the European Union have already set ambitious mandates for 100% recycling or reuse of EV batteries — a vision we strongly support for India.

We believe that policies around labelling standards, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and core charges will be instrumental in catalyzing the ecosystem.

Through our innovation centers and partnerships, we are not only scaling recycling capacity but also investing in R&D to optimize recovery, automation, and safety in battery disassembly and material extraction.

The Road Ahead

Battery recycling is no longer a future consideration — it's a present-day necessity. The battery market is poised to grow tenfold in the next decade, and India stands at a crossroads. By investing in lithium battery reusing and recycling, we can secure material supply chains, reduce environmental impacts, and power an inclusive transition to clean energy.

At LOHUM, we are not just building technology — we are building trust, sustainability, and circular value.

Our goal is simple yet transformative: To ensure that every lithium-ion battery used in India has a sustainable second life. Whether it powers a vehicle, a village, or a virtual world, we make sure it powers a cleaner tomorrow.

Visit us at: reverse logistics for lithium-ion batteries

Originally published on: Blogger