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eISSN: 2083-5906
ISSN: 1230-1485
ISSN: 1230-1485
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Research on Optimal Recycling and Reprocessing
Strategies for End-of-Life NEV Power
Batteries under the EPR System
1
School of Economics and Management (School of Green Finance), Huzhou College, Huzhou, China
2
School of Foreign Studies, Yiwu Industrial & Commercial College, Yiwu, China
Submission date: 2025-09-19
Final revision date: 2025-11-27
Acceptance date: 2026-01-27
Online publication date: 2026-03-09
Corresponding author
Ruifeng Gong
School of Economics and Management (School of Green Finance), Huzhou College, Huzhou, China
School of Economics and Management (School of Green Finance), Huzhou College, Huzhou, China
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
In China, the number of newly registered electric vehicles (EVs) has been growing steadily each
year, especially since the issuance of the Implementation Plan for the Extended Producer Responsibility
(EPR) System. However, the country has not yet established clear standards for the recycling rate and
management of retired new energy vehicle (NEV) batteries. Therefore, under the EPR system, how to
select appropriate recycling and reuse methods to improve the efficiency of retired battery recycling and
disposal is not only a current technical challenge but also an unavoidable environmental issue in the
future. This paper discusses the key issues related to the recycling and reuse of used batteries within
the EPR framework, such as the unclear delineation of recycling responsibility, poor recycling rates,
and varying consumer preferences. The core of the paper lies in the analysis of stakeholder behavioral
choices and a comparison of the efficiency of different recycling methods. It proposes four distinct
recycling modes: the manufacturer’s independent recycling, commissioned recycling (outsourced to
retailers and third-party recyclers), and joint recycling. The results of the model show that independent
recycling results in a significantly higher waste power battery recycling rate compared to commissioned
recycling. However, joint recycling proves to be the most effective method for achieving an optimal
recycling rate. In terms of corporate profitability, joint recycling appears to be the most advantageous
for NEV power battery manufacturers, even though retailers and third-party recyclers may not reap
the same benefits. The influence of the market share of remanufactured products on the recycling and
remanufacturing of NEV power batteries is contingent on the substitution effects of the two types of
products. When product substitutability is low, an increased market share of remanufactured products
can boost corporate profits; conversely, it can diminish profits. This study offers fresh perspectives for
related research and provides a theoretical foundation for the development of efficacious NEV power
battery recycling policies.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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| ISSN: | 1230-1485 |
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