China has rolled out comprehensive national standards for the recycling and utilisation of electric vehicle (EV) power batteries, aiming to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the sector. Pilot programs across the country report material recovery rates exceeding 99% for nickel, cobalt, and manganese, according to IT-Home.
The General Administration of Market Supervision recently approved five additional standards, increasing the total to 22. These regulations cover general requirements, management procedures, and dismantling methods for retired EV batteries, including specifications for recycling, dismantling, and residual energy detection.
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Some companies participating in pilot programs have achieved nickel-cobalt-manganese recovery rates of 99.6% and lithium recovery rates of 96.5%, demonstrating significant progress in sustainable battery management while generating economic, social, and ecological benefits.
Authorities, including the General Administration of Market Supervision and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, are establishing a national technical committee to further standardise EV battery recycling. The committee includes stakeholders from raw material supply, battery production, recycling and dismantling, chemical processing, and material reuse, and covers automotive, marine, and energy storage applications. Additional national standards are expected to emerge from this collaborative effort.
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China is also engaging in international standardisation efforts. Experts are contributing to global frameworks for second-life battery performance evaluation, classification systems, and general recycling guidelines. A China-led proposal, the “General guidelines for deep discharge in battery recycling and utilisation,” has been approved as an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard project. Nearly 40 Chinese specialists now participate in international technical committees, representing China in global battery standard-setting initiatives.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has emphasised the enforcement of mandatory safety standards for lithium batteries, including those used in electric bicycles. Retired batteries are prohibited from being repurposed in certain applications such as e-bikes, and additional mandatory standards are being updated to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible recycling practices.