With the increasing number of retired electric vehicles, the recycling of used batteries is entering a new phase. Industry insiders urge the preservation of the secondhand market to “extend their lifespan at affordable prices” and prevent exacerbating black market smuggling issues.
With the increasing proportion of electric vehicles in Hong Kong, and their battery lifespan of approximately 5 to 10 years, the government projects that 6,700 tons of batteries will be retired by 2030, raising concerns about targeted recycling measures. The Tuen Mun battery recycling facility, recently completed, can handle 10,000 tons of recycling, changing Hong Kong’s recycling landscape. Several automotive industry insiders have reported that licensed battery recyclers previously found it difficult to accept used batteries. Waste batteries were mainly exported to countries with demand through various channels, including smuggling, while some were used for used car repairs in Hong Kong and even mainland China, and the remainder were recycled by organizations for energy storage. Some repair industry professionals are urging the government to consider retaining a portion of the compliant secondhand market when consulting on the “producer responsibility system” for electric vehicle batteries, to prevent vehicles from losing their residual value and significantly increasing recycling costs for owners, further exacerbating the black market and smuggling problems.
Source of information: Singtao Daily
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