Recently, Xin Guobin, the deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, emphasized the urgency of releasing management measures for the recycling of power batteries. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, new energy vehicle sales in China reached 700,000 units in 2017, with over 1.6 million electric vehicles on the road today. As more of these vehicles reach the end of their life, the demand for battery recycling is growing rapidly.
Experts predict that by 2020, the annual volume of scrapped power batteries in China could reach 32.2 GWh. While this signals a potential boom in the recycling market, many questions remain. Can these batteries be reused in secondary applications? Is the industry prepared for large-scale recycling? These issues are still under debate, and no clear answers have been given yet.
One key concept in battery reuse is "step-by-step utilization," where used batteries are repurposed for less demanding tasks, such as energy storage. This approach aligns with green development goals and offers economic benefits. However, in practice, the process faces significant challenges.
"The early batch of power batteries from new energy vehicles had poor performance, making them unsuitable for secondary use," said Guo Jie, vice general manager of Beijing Sideme Resources Reuse Research Institute. Many of the vehicles promoted during the "Ten Cities One Thousand Vehicles" initiative are now idle because their batteries don’t meet the standards for reuse. This has limited the effectiveness of step-by-step utilization.
So where do these batteries go? Some are retained by car manufacturers or research institutions for testing purposes. Few are sent directly to recycling companies. Additionally, early battery designs were not easy to dismantle, which complicates the recycling process. Each battery pack contains multiple cells, and checking each one for reusability is time-consuming and labor-intensive.
According to Zhang Ying, secretary-general of the China Association for Recycling and Recycling, current battery testing technology is not mature enough. It's difficult to accurately assess the remaining life and condition of used batteries, which reduces the economic viability of recycling. These challenges highlight the need for better technology and more efficient processes.
The power battery recycling market is expected to grow significantly. By 2020, the total scrap volume could reach 500,000 tons, with the lithium battery recycling market reaching 15.6 billion yuan. By 2023, the volume is projected to hit 1.16 million tons. Despite these positive forecasts, the industry still faces major hurdles.
Although there are few entry barriers for companies entering the recycling sector, environmental regulations make it difficult for new players to obtain necessary permits. In cities like Beijing, strict environmental assessments limit the establishment of recycling facilities. Some companies are even reluctant to handle power batteries due to their hazardous nature.
Currently, most recycling uses hydrometallurgy, a method derived from chemical industries, which is not well accepted in environmentally sensitive regions. Power batteries are classified as dangerous goods, adding to transportation costs and regulatory complexity. Companies must also hold hazardous waste permits, which involve strict technical and environmental requirements.
Some companies, like Beijing Sideme, are exploring physical methods for recycling, which avoid chemical processing and can pass environmental reviews. However, critics argue that without chemical treatment, it’s hard to fully separate mixed materials. Building a physical recycling line with a capacity of 3,000 tons per year requires around 30 million yuan in investment.
Improving the recycling rate of power batteries requires collaboration across the entire supply chain. The producer responsibility extension system is crucial, ensuring that manufacturers take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products. Without proper design for disassembly, recycling becomes inefficient and costly.
The newly proposed "Interim Measures for the Management of Recycling and Use of Power Batteries" aim to establish traceability systems and set standards for battery codes. If implemented effectively, these measures could help regulate the industry and promote sustainable practices. However, enforcement and market adoption remain uncertain.
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