MIT Technology Review Narrated China figured out how to sell EVs. Now it has to deal with their aging batteries.
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Feb 4, 2026 A look at China’s massive EV boom and the coming wave of aging batteries flooding the market. The strain on recycling infrastructure and the rise of a risky grey market get examined. The episode contrasts repurposing packs for energy storage with full material recovery. It highlights efforts by major manufacturers to build formal take-back and closed-loop systems.
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Early Buyer Sells Aging EV For Scrap
- Wang Lei bought a cheap Chinese EV in 2016 and struggled with range as the battery aged.
- He sold the car to a local recycler and netted about 28,000 yuan after subsidies.
Rapid EV Adoption Creates A Battery Wave
- China sold EVs rapidly: by late 2025 nearly 60% of new cars were electric or plug-in hybrids.
- As those early batteries age, China faces urgent pressure to manage huge volumes of retired packs.
Huge Volumes Test Recycling Capacity
- Retired EV battery volumes are large and rising: estimates put 2025 at 820,000 tons and near 1 million tonnes by 2030.
- This scale strains a recycling industry still being built out.