China is stepping up efforts to recycle used new energy vehicle (NEV) power batteries as the rapidly growing industry generates increasing volumes of end-of-life batteries.

NEV production and sales each exceeded 16 million units in 2025, accounting for more than half of domestic new vehicle sales. With batteries from earlier-generation NEVs reaching the end of their service life, China is expected to see nearly 500,000 tons of retired power batteries this year.

Decommissioned batteries are sent to specialised recycling companies, where up to 99.6 percent of nickel, cobalt and manganese and more than 90 percent of lithium can be recovered for use in new batteries.

At a dismantling workshop in Nanjing, east China’s Jiangsu Province, each removed battery is assigned a QR code, allowing its vehicle information to be traced throughout the recycling process. Safety facilities are also in place to handle risks including fires, leaks and thermal runaway.