Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the growing issue of retired electric vehicle batteries in China, emphasizing the importance of recycling and repurposing these batteries to prevent environmental harm and to recover valuable metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are crucial for the industry [1][3]. Group 1: Battery Recycling and Utilization - China's electric vehicle battery stock has surpassed 40 million units, with the first generation of batteries entering a phase of large-scale retirement [1]. - The recycling of retired batteries can be categorized into two main methods: regeneration, which involves extracting valuable metals through processes like disassembly and smelting, and cascade utilization, which repurposes batteries for other applications such as emergency power sources [2][3]. - The market for battery recycling has already exceeded 300,000 tons, corresponding to a market size of over 48 billion yuan, with projections indicating it could surpass 100 billion yuan by 2030 [3]. Group 2: Challenges in Recycling - The battery recycling market in China is large but lacks standardization, leading to issues with unregulated small workshops profiting from the recycling process [4][5]. - The competition in the recycling market is intense, with many legitimate companies struggling to compete against informal channels that offer higher prices for retired batteries [5]. - There are significant challenges in the technical aspects of battery recycling, including reliance on manual labor for disassembly, which can lead to safety hazards and inefficiencies [5]. Group 3: Regulatory Framework and Standards - The Chinese government has introduced 22 national standards for battery recycling, covering various aspects such as collection, transportation, and processing to ensure safety and environmental protection [6][7]. - New standards have been established to improve the efficiency of battery disassembly by over 50% and to ensure that harmful substances are managed properly during the recycling process [6][7]. - The development of international standards for battery recycling is underway, with Chinese experts actively participating in international standardization efforts [8].
中国已发布动力电池回收利用国家标准22项——让废旧动力电池变身“城市矿产”
Xin Hua Wang·2025-11-19 00:10