China’s rapid expansion of electric vehicle sales is creating a growing challenge: large numbers of ageing batteries now need to be safely reused or recycled. Although the country has developed substantial official recycling capacity, much of the waste stream still goes to uncertified operators, raising risks of pollution, fires and unsafe disposal.

Sales of battery-powered vehicles rose from around 1 million in 2018 to more than 16 million in 2025, while batteries typically last about eight years. China recorded 400,000 tonnes of EV battery waste last year; researchers project this could reach 1.69 million tonnes in 2030 and 22.39 million tonnes by 2040. Certified recyclers had capacity for 623,000 tonnes in 2023 but processed only about a quarter of retired batteries, and reports suggest many officially approved firms are no longer operating.