China seeks public opinion on new guidelines for comprehensive utilization of used new energy vehicle batteries

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (“MIIT”) on Aug. 14 released a draft of the "Industry Norms for Comprehensive Utilization of Used Power Batteries from New Energy Vehicles (2024 Edition)" to solicit public consultation. This move marks a significant step towards enhancing the management of the comprehensive utilization industry for waste power batteries from new energy vehicles (NEVs) and promoting the industry's high-quality development.

Photo credit:  Brunp Recycling

The document outlines that comprehensive utilization refers to the multi-level, multi-purpose reasonable use of used batteries from NEVs, primarily including echelon use and recycling.

The draft specifies that companies should carry out the comprehensive utilization of used power batteries in accordance with relevant national and industry standards. It also sets forth detailed requirements regarding facility conditions, equipment, technical processes, traceability, resource utilization, and energy consumption. Furthermore, it provides specific guidelines tailored to both echelon-use and recycling enterprises.

For instance, echelon-use enterprises must ensure that the volume of used power batteries applied for echelon-use applications each year is no less than 60% of the actual volume of used power batteries they recycle, with both utilization and recycling volumes calculated by weight. These enterprises are also required to establish or co-establish an online monitoring platform with users to track the operational status and flow of echelon-use products.

In addition, recycling enterprises must ensure the effective extraction and recovery of key valuable metals through smelting or material restoration processes. The recovery rates for copper and aluminum should be no less than 98%, with electrode powder recovery rates after crushing and separation also reaching 98% or higher. The impurity content of aluminum and copper should be kept below 1%. Lithium recovery during the smelting process must reach at least 90%, while the recovery rates for nickel, cobalt, and manganese should not be lower than 98%. The comprehensive recovery rate for rare earth elements and other valuable metals should exceed 97%, with a fluorine solidification rate of no less than 99.5%, and the comprehensive energy consumption for lithium carbonate production should be kept below 2,200 kilograms of standard coal per tonne. For those using material restoration processes, the total weight of recovered materials should account for no less than 99% of the target materials contained in the original power batteries.