The collaboration comes at a time when India is preparing for a sharp rise in EV battery waste over the coming years.
What does MiniMines do?
Founded in 2021 by Anupam Kumar and Arvind Bhardwaj, MiniMines is an Indian clean-tech startup that recycles old lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles and electronic devices.
Instead of throwing away used batteries, the company extracts valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, graphite and manganese, which are the main ingredients needed to make new EV batteries.
What technology does it use?
MiniMines has developed its own hybrid hydrometallurgy technology – a chemical-based recycling process that recovers these metals at a lower cost and with lower carbon emissions than many traditional recycling methods.
The recovered materials are purified to battery-grade quality. This creates a circular economy, where materials from old batteries are reused to make new ones. Recycling can recover up to 95% of these metals, which can then be used to make new batteries.
Why is battery recycling important?
India is still building its
battery recycling system. If old EV batteries are not collected and recycled properly, they could end up in landfills. When batteries are dumped in landfills, harmful chemicals can leak into the soil and groundwater which can damage the environment.
Another concern is informal recycling. In some cases, batteries are dismantled using unsafe methods without proper equipment. This can release toxic gases and hazardous chemicals. This can also put workers and nearby communities at risk.
What makes MiniMines different?
MiniMines stands out because it has developed its battery recycling technology in India. The Technology Development Board (TDB), which works under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has provided financial support to MiniMines.
It also secured its first commercial order through a United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) project. MiniMines has received a ₹4.3 crore grant from ACT for Environment, UNIDO and Oil India Limited.
Unlike many recyclers that focus mainly on disposing of battery waste, MiniMines aims to recover battery-grade lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese, allowing these critical minerals to be reused in the production of new lithium-ion batteries.
Is this a pilot or commercial deployment?
Maruti Suzuki has not disclosed the commercial terms of its partnership with MiniMines or whether it is a pilot project. However, the battery recycling startup is currently scaling up its technology for commercial use after receiving financial support from the government earlier this year.
How does this fit into Maruti’s EV plans?
The partnership comes as Maruti Suzuki prepares to expand its electric vehicle business. As EV sales grow, more batteries will eventually reach the end of their life and need to be recycled. At the same time, stricter Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules will require manufacturers to ensure used batteries are collected and recycled safely.
While Maruti has not explicitly linked the partnership to a specific EV programme, the collaboration aligns with the company’s broader electrification strategy.
