China’s New Disassembly Standards: 99.6% Recovery Rate for Key Materials from Retired EV Batteries
Source: WeltrusTable of Contents
- Overview
- Pilot Project Results
- New National Standards — Scope and Impact
- National Technical Committee and Industry Coordination
- China’s Role in International Standardization
- Safety Rules and Mandatory Standards
- Conclusion
Overview
China has rolled out strengthened national standards for the recovery and disassembly of retired electric vehicle (EV) power batteries. The updated framework aims to improve material recovery rates, standardize dismantling procedures, and boost the environmental and economic benefits of battery recycling across the automotive and energy-storage sectors.
Pilot Project Results
Recent pilot reports show striking recovery performance for critical battery materials. According to industry summaries:
- Nickel, cobalt and manganese (NCM) recovery rates have exceeded 99% in trial operations, with some enterprises reporting up to 99.6% recovery.
- Lithium recovery rates in certain pilot programs have reached approximately 96.5%.
These outcomes indicate that modern recycling workflows can reclaim nearly all high-value metals from retired EV batteries, cutting raw-material demand and lowering lifecycle environmental impact.
New National Standards — Scope and Impact
The State Administration for Market Regulation has recently approved five additional standards, bringing the national battery-recycling standards suite to 22 technical documents. The standards cover a broad scope, including:
- General requirements for retired EV power battery recycling;
- Management procedures for collection, transport, and traceability;
- Dismantling methods and safety rules for battery disassembly.
Standards already in widespread industry use include translated titles such as “Automotive Power Battery Recycling and Dismantling Specification” and “Residual Charge Detection for Automotive Power Batteries”, which help ensure consistent, safe, and efficient processing throughout the value chain.
National Technical Committee and Industry Coordination
To coordinate implementation and future standard development, the State Administration for Market Regulation together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) are establishing a national technical committee on battery recycling. The committee will bring together stakeholders from raw-material supply, battery manufacturing, recycling and dismantling, chemical processing, and materials reuse.
Its mandate includes meeting recycling needs across automotive, marine, and energy storage applications and accelerating the creation of further national standards to support a circular battery economy.
China’s Role in International Standardization
China is actively participating in international standardization efforts on battery recycling. Experts from China have contributed to global workstreams covering second-life battery performance assessment, classification systems, and universal guidelines for retired battery recovery.
Notably, a China-led proposal — the “General Guide for Deep Discharge of Recycled Batteries” — has been approved as an IEC international standard project. Nearly 40 Chinese experts now serve on the international battery technical committee, strengthening China’s representation in shaping global norms.
Safety Rules and Mandatory Standards
MIIT stresses the enforcement of mandatory safety standards for lithium batteries. Examples include national safety specifications for lithium-ion batteries used in electric bicycles. As part of the new regulatory stance:
- The use of retired automotive batteries in consumer applications such as electric bicycles is explicitly prohibited.
- Mandatory safety standards for different lithium battery applications are being developed and updated to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable recycling practices.
These measures aim to prevent unsafe repurposing, protect end users, and raise overall recycling quality.
Conclusion
China’s expanded standardization framework and pilot project successes mark a major step toward a circular, safer, and more resource-efficient EV battery industry. With high recovery rates for key materials and stronger national and international coordination, the new standards promise economic, social, and ecological benefits while supporting global moves toward sustainable battery management.
