India’s electric vehicle revolution could become more affordable if the country strengthens its battery recycling framework and reduces dependence on expensive raw materials. Jai Asundi, Executive Director of the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), has highlighted the urgent need for better recycling infrastructure, stricter regulations, and sustainable battery manufacturing. Speaking at the Renewable Energy India Expo 2026 and The Battery Show India, Asundi stressed that EV Battery Recycling Rules Need Reform to recover valuable minerals, strengthen domestic supply chains, and potentially reduce electric vehicle prices over the coming years as cleaner mobility gains momentum nationwide.
Why Does India Need Stronger EV Battery Recycling Rules?
India needs stronger battery recycling enforcement to recover lithium, nickel, cobalt, and other valuable materials from used EV batteries. Improved collection, domestic mineral recovery, and effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) could reduce raw material dependence, support local battery manufacturing, and potentially make electric vehicles more affordable.
Why Are EV Batteries Still Expensive in India?
Battery packs remain among the most expensive components of electric vehicles, significantly influencing their purchase prices.
During his conversation with BW Auto World, Asundi explained that battery material costs are a major obstacle to making electric mobility affordable.
Most modern electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which depend on materials exposed to international supply fluctuations.
He highlighted emerging battery chemistries, particularly sodium-ion technology, as a promising alternative for reducing long-term costs.
Key highlights:
- Lithium-ion batteries remain central to India’s EV industry.
- Sodium-ion technology could reduce dependence on lithium.
- New battery chemistries may improve affordability and longevity.
- Asundi expects significant battery price reductions could emerge within five years.
However, these reductions remain possibilities rather than guaranteed outcomes.
EV Battery Recycling Rules Need Reform: What’s Missing?
Asundi believes India’s battery recycling ecosystem requires stronger preparation, coordinated implementation, and improved regulatory enforcement.
Although the government has introduced Extended Producer Responsibility requirements, collecting used batteries and returning recovered materials to manufacturers remains challenging.
He called for a mission-driven approach involving government agencies, battery producers, recyclers, and automobile manufacturers.
India’s Battery Recycling Policy and Recovery Targets
India’s Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, establish recycling responsibilities for battery producers.
The framework includes:
- Extended Producer Responsibility: Producers must meet applicable waste battery collection and recycling obligations.
- Recovery targets: EV battery material recovery requirements reach 90% from FY2026–27.
- Recycled materials: Minimum domestic recycled-content requirements begin for EV batteries from FY2027–28.
- Regulatory compliance: Registered recyclers and producers participate through a centralized EPR system.
Nevertheless, implementation challenges could limit the effectiveness of these measures.
Collection Networks and Black Mass Exports Pose Challenges
According to Asundi, efficient battery collection is essential for building a genuine circular economy.
Without organized collection networks, valuable materials may never reach authorized recycling facilities.
India also faces concerns surrounding informal recycling operations, environmental safety, and limited domestic refining capacity.
Another challenge involves black mass, the mineral-rich material produced during battery processing.
When black mass leaves India for overseas refining, domestic manufacturers lose opportunities to recover valuable battery minerals locally.
Low EPR certificate prices have also raised concerns about whether formal recyclers receive sufficient financial incentives to invest in advanced recovery technologies.
Improved processing methods, including hydrometallurgy, could strengthen mineral recovery and recycling economics.
Can Battery Recycling Actually Reduce Electric Vehicle Prices?
EV Battery Recycling Rules Need Reform because recovered materials could eventually become an important domestic source of battery manufacturing inputs.
By returning valuable minerals to production, manufacturers may reduce their reliance on newly mined and imported resources.
This could improve supply-chain resilience, especially as India’s electric vehicle market expands.
However, recycling also involves collection, transportation, processing, and refining costs. Therefore, cheaper batteries will depend on achieving efficient, commercially viable recovery at scale.
Second-Life EV Batteries Could Support Renewable Energy
Asundi also highlighted opportunities to repurpose used electric vehicle batteries for stationary energy storage.
A battery that no longer satisfies demanding automotive performance requirements may still retain useful storage capacity.
After appropriate testing and safety assessment, such batteries could potentially support electricity networks.
Possible applications include:
- Storing surplus solar electricity during daytime.
- Supplying electricity during evening demand peaks.
- Supporting renewable energy integration.
- Reducing dependence on conventional backup generation.
Current battery storage systems commonly offer two, four, or six hours of electricity storage.
Although round-the-clock renewable power remains challenging, energy storage can already help balance generation and consumption.
What Needs to Change for Affordable EVs?
India’s recycling ecosystem requires coordinated action across collection, technology, regulation, and manufacturing.
Stronger enforcement, transparent recycling certificates, domestic mineral refining, and improved collection infrastructure could help create a sustainable battery supply chain.
Asundi’s assessment suggests that EV Battery Recycling Rules Need Reform alongside continued innovation in battery chemistry.
For Indian EV buyers, the long-term opportunity is significant: more efficient recycling, stronger resource security, and technological improvements could gradually narrow the price gap between electric and petrol vehicles.
Ultimately, India’s transition toward affordable electric mobility will depend not only on manufacturing more batteries but also on recovering their valuable materials responsibly.
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