Five authorities issue second-life battery rules covering quality and collection

Five Chinese authorities issued second-life traction battery management measures on 19 August 2021. They set requirements for enterprises, products and collection, placing responsibility for product quality and end-of-life treatment on producers.

Businesses were required to assess residual value using test data and establish quality and inspection systems. Product design had to address insulation, fire resistance, thermal and battery management, with performance and safety appropriate to the intended application.

Traceability requirements included preserving original battery codes, coding second-life products and uploading records. Producers also had to provide warranty and after-sales service and arrange collection and transfer of discarded products to recyclers.

These measures were repealed on 1 April 2026 when Joint Order 73 took effect. This article retains the historical account; subsequent collection and processing are governed by the new rules.