99.6% of key materials recovered from retired EV batteries under China’s new dismantling standards

China has implemented national standards for the recycling and utilisation of electric vehicle (EV) power batteries. Pilot programs report over 99% recovery of key materials such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese, according to IT-Home. The General Administration of Market Supervision recently approved five additional standards, bringing the total to 22. These standards cover general requirements, management procedures, and dismantling methods for retired EV batteries.

Standards, including the “Vehicle power battery recycling and dismantling specification” and “Vehicle power battery remaining energy detection”, have already been widely applied across the industry in China. Some companies achieve nickel-cobalt-manganese recovery rates of 99.6% and lithium recovery rates of 96.5%, supporting greener, more sustainable EV battery management while generating economic, social, and ecological benefits.

The General Administration of Market Supervision and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are forming a national technical committee to standardise battery recycling. The committee brings together stakeholders from raw material supply, battery production, recycling and dismantling, chemical processing, and material reuse. It addresses battery recycling needs across automotive, marine, and energy storage applications, with additional national standards expected.

China is also actively participating in international standardisation for EV battery recycling. Experts contribute to global standards covering second-life battery performance evaluation, classification systems, and general guidelines for retired battery recycling. A China-led proposal, the “General guidelines for deep discharge in battery recycling and utilisation”, has been approved as an IEC international standard project. Nearly 40 Chinese experts now participate in international battery technical committees, ensuring full representation in the standard-setting process.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology emphasises enforcing mandatory safety standards for lithium batteries, including the “Safety technical specification for lithium-ion batteries in electric bicycles”. The use of retired batteries in applications such as e-bikes is prohibited. Mandatory standards across different lithium battery applications are being formulated and updated to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable recycling practices.