China-europe energy storage battery recycling

Are China's EV batteries ready for reuse & recycling?

China is faced with an enormous wave of batteries ready for reuse and recycling stemming from the world’s largest EV uptake starting around six years ago. In the last six months, the Chinese government has issued a series of new directives to ensure the battery reuse and recycling industries can effectively expand to scale. * * *

How many batteries are recycled in China?

Currently, estimates sourced in Chinese media report that only around 30 – 40% of battery materials are being recycled. The nascent industries are plagued by several growing pains, such as a lack of standard battery technology, patchy battery recycling technology and lagging reuse processes, making each recycling process different and costly.

Who is China's largest battery recycler?

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) is China’s largest battery maker and largest battery recycler, capable of recycling 120,000 metric tons of material per year. Dozens of other Chinese companies are rapidly building their own recycling capacity.

Why is battery recycling a big business in China?

This not only makes sense for geopolitical and environmental reasons but also because battery reuse and recycling is big business. Some estimates in Chinese media see the battery recycling market in China reaching RMB 26 billion (3.59 billion euros) by 2025 but figures for market value and volume of battery materials recycled in China vary wildly.

Could China replace lithium with recycled lithium in EV batteries?

China, a major producer and processor of key battery raw materials like lithium and graphite, could replace lithium obtained by mining with recycled lithium in EV batteries from 2059 onward, according to a study by the University of Münster in Germany. By comparison, Europe and the US are expected to reach that milestone only after 2070.

How many new energy vehicles are being recycled in China?

Projecting back from now, 2015-2017 saw the explosive growth of new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in China that are now flooding into the battery reuse and recycling markets. Last year, 3.3 million new energy vehicles were sold, which gives an idea of the number of batteries heading for reuse and recycling between 2025-2027.