China has set new national standards for EV battery dismantling and recycling, achieving recovery rates of around 99.6% for key materials like nickel, cobalt, and manganese, and 96.5% for lithium, significantly advancing environmental sustainability.

A recycling facility in Tianjin exemplifies effective practices by recovering over 95% of lithium from old EV batteries, which is then refined into new battery materials.

The standards, including the 'Vehicle Power Battery Recycling and Dismantling Specification' and 'Remaining Energy Detection,' have been widely adopted, boosting both environmental and economic circularity within China's EV industry.

China is also influencing international standards, with its proposal on deep discharge guidelines now an official IEC project, ensuring global recognition of its recycling practices.

To unify efforts, China is establishing a national technical committee to develop comprehensive standards for battery recycling across the entire lifecycle, involving experts from raw material supply to reuse in various applications.

As part of safety measures, China has banned the use of retired lithium batteries in electric bicycles to prevent fire hazards and introduced mandatory safety standards for lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes.

In 2024, China’s lithium battery volume reached approximately 1,300 GWh, with projections indicating a peak in battery retirements in 2026 and a goal of achieving lithium self-sufficiency by 2040 through efficient recycling.