Gadkari backs second-life EV batteries and low-cost petrol-moped retrofits
The minister urged reuse of EV batteries for home energy storage and affordable two-wheeler conversions. A retrofit operator active in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Nagpur says battery-related components account for nearly half of conversion costs, underscoring the need for lower-cost battery supply.
What happened
Indian EV retrofit sector · Nitin Gadkari advocated second-life EV batteries for home energy storage and affordable petrol-moped retrofits. An EV retrofit
Key facts
- Battery-electric cars averaged 1,878kg in the EU during 2020-2025
- Combustion-only cars averaged 1,479kg
- Battery-electric cars were 399kg heavier than combustion-only cars
- Plug-in hybrids averaged 1,974kg, or 495kg more than combustion-only cars
- Non-plug-in hybrids averaged 1,631kg
- Lithium-ion batteries can run up to 50,000km
- Battery-related components account for nearly 50% of retrofit cost
Why this matters
Partnerships with battery recyclers, OEMs and retrofit specialists could unlock a defensible second-life battery platform across home storage and two-wheeler conversions.
What to watch
- Central or state rules on second-life battery certification, traceability, transport and end-of-life responsibility.
- Formal approval pathways for petrol two-wheeler conversion kits, registration and insurance.
- Declining prices or greater availability of retired EV battery packs from fleets, three-wheelers and passenger EVs.
- Launch of standardized battery-health diagnostics, warranties or insurance products for reused packs.
- Financing partnerships that reduce retrofit down payments and validate consumer demand.
- Safety incidents, recalls or fire events that could tighten regulation and increase compliance costs.
- Build a battery take-back and residual-value program with EV dealers, fleet operators and authorized recyclers.
- Pilot certified second-life battery packs for low-speed or limited-range two-wheeler retrofit use cases before broad consumer rollout.
- Bundle retrofit sales with EMI financing, battery warranties, roadside support and periodic battery-health checks.
- Prioritize dense urban markets with high two-wheeler ownership, delivery fleets and existing service capacity, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Nagpur.
- Track whether battery savings can be passed through while maintaining enough margin for testing, warranty reserves and after-sales service.