There is a steady rise in the number of BEVs changing the way transportation moves, and also how we think about energy, waste and resource use. With this constant onslaught of electric vehicles, the conversation around lithium-ion batteries is rapidly shifting towards what happens when these batteries reach the end of their first life. Working in the midst of this problem is ARC Electric with an intent on embedding circular economy principles into every aspect of electric mobility.
Abhinav Kalia, CEO and Co-founder of ARC Electric, sheds more light on how battery recycling and reuse are becoming central to the future of sustainable transportation. He is working towards not only managing waste, but about creating new value cycles from what would otherwise be discarded.
Second-Life Revolution
Kalia begins by highlighting a crucial but often overlooked point that most EV batteries still retain 70 to 80% of their energy capacity when they are retired from automotive use. While this might not be enough for driving, it is more than adequate for stationary applications. ARC Electric is actively working with fleet operators and energy storage partners to repurpose these so-called “end-of-life” batteries into systems that power EV charging stations or act as buffers for local grids.
This “second-life” approach not only delays the need for recycling—an expensive and energy-intensive process—it also reduces the environmental footprint per battery and extracts more value from the same raw material. The batteries that once powered a delivery van might next be used to keep a charging hub running during peak hours. According to Kalia, “It’s about pushing every cell to its full potential, quite literally.”
Creating Local Scale Circular Economies
A standout theme in ARC Electric’s work is decentralisation. Rather than relying on distant recycling facilities or centralised systems, the company is encouraging the growth of regional battery collection centres and certified recycling partnerships. This shift, Kalia notes, cuts down the carbon emissions involved in transporting used batteries across long distances.
It also brings economic benefits. These decentralised centres act as new nodes of employment and entrepreneurship in India’s growing green economy. “We see this not just as a waste management strategy but as a platform for local livelihoods,” Kalia says. This means battery recycling becomes a mechanism for regional development, not just a backend solution.
ESG Goals Through Traceability
Additionally, regulation is another driver of this shift. With India’s Battery Waste Management Rules now active and the European Union’s Battery Regulation setting new benchmarks, traceability and compliance are becoming non-negotiable. ARC Electric is responding by helping B2B fleet operators embed traceable battery handover protocols into their operations.
Their systems can now track battery performance, carbon offset contributions, and end-of-life milestones. This data can be used not just to ensure compliance but to feed into ESG reports, sustainability audits and investor communications. “Being circular is now part of being accountable,” Kalia points out.
Predicting Battery Retirement
With significant advancements being made in telematics and predictive analytics, ARC Electric can also foresee when a battery is nearing the end of its useful life. These predictive tools are not just academic exercises—they help logistics operators schedule battery swaps or removals without disrupting operations.
Kalia explains that the idea is to manage the battery as a “whole asset” across its lifecycle—from powering a vehicle to serving as backup energy storage, and finally being recycled for raw materials. This maximises commercial returns and environmental efficiency in one stroke.
Long-Term Vision
As EV adoption grows, the number of batteries reaching their second and third stages of life will rise dramatically. ARC Electric’s vision is to make sure those batteries are not treated as scrap, but as renewable economic units. With every reused pack and every recycled cell, the company is redefining the lifecycle of EV components.
Battery recycling, once seen as an afterthought, is now central to the future of clean mobility. “The circular economy is not just an environmental goal—it’s an operational model,” says Kalia. And ARC Electric is placing itself firmly at the centre of that model, where efficiency, responsibility, and innovation converge.