Bridging the regulatory gap: A policy review of extended producer responsibility for power battery recycling in China

Abstract

The production of electric vehicles in China is continuously increasing, leading to the issue of retired power batteries recycling. According to the degree of end-of-life (EOL), the recycling of power batteries can be divided into cascading utilization and material recycling. As the number of retired power batteries rising each year, effective recycling paths for power batteries are urgently needed to achieve sustainable development, protect the environment, and reduce carbon emissions. Currently, the legal framework for the recycling of electric vehicle power batteries in China needs further enhancement, especially in the implementation of the extended producer responsibility (EPR). This includes clarifying the rights and obligations of responsible parties, particularly the financial responsibilities, clarifying the information collection and reporting system, and promoting incentive mechanisms. In this process, experiences from the European Union in managing waste batteries can be drawn upon to further improve China's legal system for power batteries recycling.