Wired·5 min read·hard
China’s EV Market Is Booming. There’s Just One Problem
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Andrew Liu✦AI Summary
China is facing a significant waste management challenge as the first wave of electric vehicle batteries reaches the end of its life cycle. While the country has built recycling capacity, much of the supply is handled by uncertified recyclers, leading to environmental contamination.
Annual sales of battery-powered vehicles in China, including fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, have surged from about 1 million in 2018 to more than 16 million in 2025. With EV batteries typically lasting about eight years, the country is entering its first major wave of battery retirements.
environmenttechnologyeconomy
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