车圈圆桌派｜正规军抢不过小作坊，动力电池回收亟待“疏堵”

Core Insights - The Chinese market is approaching a large-scale retirement phase for power batteries, necessitating significant efforts in battery recycling and utilization [1][2] - The action plan approved by the State Council aims to establish a standardized, safe, and efficient recycling system for power batteries [2] Industry Challenges - The power battery recycling industry is facing several challenges, including an imbalance between input and output, with production costs consistently exceeding sales prices, leading to overall industry losses [3][4] - The market is experiencing overcapacity, with over 180,000 companies involved in battery recycling, but the volume of retired batteries has not yet increased sufficiently to support this many players [4][5] - The presence of small workshops, which account for approximately 80% of the total recycling volume, complicates the market, as they often operate without proper regulations and can offer higher prices than compliant companies [8][11] Technical and Regulatory Issues - There is a lack of unified standards for retired battery assessment and residual value evaluation, which hampers technological advancement in material separation and recovery [6][13] - The recycling network is underdeveloped, with many collection points lacking the necessary infrastructure to handle battery recycling properly [14][15] - Current management policies lack enforceability, and the absence of a robust regulatory framework allows non-compliant entities to thrive [13][10] Market Dynamics - The recycling market is characterized by fierce competition, with small workshops often outbidding compliant companies due to lower operational costs [11][21] - The economic viability of the recycling industry remains uncertain, with only a few companies achieving profitability amid high procurement costs and fluctuating metal prices [19][21] - The future of the industry is expected to trend towards consolidation, with a focus on technological advancements and regulatory compliance to ensure sustainable growth [21][22] Future Outlook - The market for battery recycling is projected to grow significantly, with estimates suggesting that the domestic recycling volume will exceed 300,000 tons by 2024, corresponding to a market size of over 48 billion yuan [3][4] - The dual paths of cascade utilization and recycling are anticipated to coexist, with both sectors expected to expand as the demand for electric vehicles and energy storage solutions increases [17][18] - The industry is calling for national support and policy frameworks to facilitate the development of a comprehensive recycling ecosystem [22]