LICO Materials and Ather Energy formed a strategic partnership to create a comprehensive system for collecting end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and recovering critical battery materials. Under the agreement, Ather’s fleet batteries will be recycled at LICO’s processing facility in Karnataka, and the recovered materials will be fed back into the battery supply chain for use by cell manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) producing next-generation electric vehicles.
Building a Circular Battery Supply Chain
The collaboration focuses on establishing a closed-loop ecosystem for valuable materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and copper. By recovering these resources from used batteries, the partners aim to reduce waste while strengthening India’s domestic EV supply chain. Ather launched its first electric scooter in India in 2018 and has since become a prominent player in the electric two-wheeler market. As EV adoption accelerates, effective battery collection and recycling have become increasingly important for long-term sustainability.
Reducing Dependence on Imported Minerals
India currently lacks significant domestic reserves of many critical battery minerals and therefore relies heavily on imports. This dependence exposes the industry to price volatility, geopolitical risks, and supply chain disruptions.
“India is building one of the world’s largest EV fleets and it is doing so 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 of LICO Materials.
“This partnership means those batteries can be recycled, and recovered minerals can be fed back into the battery supply chain. We believe this is how India can reduce its dependence on imported critical materials,” Dolwani added. LICO’s recovery facility achieves recovery rates of up to 95%, enabling efficient reintegration of recovered materials into battery manufacturing.
Supporting India’s EV and Sustainability Goals
In addition to strengthening supply security, the partnership aligns with India’s broader sustainability and climate objectives. Industry projections suggest that by 2050, battery recycling could meet more than 40% of the country’s lithium, nickel, and cobalt requirements. Furthermore, expanded recycling capacity could create over 106,000 green jobs and prevent approximately 2.9 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions—equivalent to removing around 700,000 fossil-fuel vehicles from the road for a year.
Aligning with Battery Waste Management Rules
The initiative also supports the Battery Waste Management Rules, which emphasize extended producer responsibility (EPR) across the electric vehicle ecosystem. As reported by manufacturingtodayindia.com, by establishing a structured collection and recycling network, LICO Materials and Ather Energy aim to help India move closer to its Net Zero 2070 target while promoting a more resilient and circular EV industry.
