Sichuan EV battery cascade utilisation production value aims to reach 500 billion yuan by 2020

SHANGHAI, Apr 3 (SMM) – The Sichuan province, in southwest China, plans to build an electric vehicle battery recycling system across the region and aims to see production value of cascade utilisation of retired EV batteries reach 500 billion yuan by 2020, according to the Pilot Work Plan for New Energy Vehicle Power Recycling and Utilisation in Sichuan released in late March.

Sichuan will establish at least one hub that collects retired EV batteries in every prefecture-level city and further regulate the battery breaking sector.

China Tower, the world's biggest operator of telecommunication towers, will absorb the majority of second-life EV batteries. Those retired but still capable batteries will have a “second-life” in less-demanding applications such as stationary energy storage and electric carts.

Batteries that are not qualified for a second life will be broken up to extract renewable materials such as cobalt and lithium.

The Sichuan government will support local firms to develop EV battery recycling technology and aims to build a batch of demonstration projects for used EV battery comprehensive utilisation.