China has an avowed policy of forcing electrical vehicle makers to manage the entire battery life cycle. It has now introduced a register for tracking electric vehicle batteries by allocating each one a unique number. China has to address this key topic because ID TechEx predicts 3 million used EV battery packs will need dealing with every year by 2029.
2018 is China’s Start Point for Tracking Electric Vehicle Batteries

China expects the first used EV battery packs will start stacking up this year. Accordingly, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is introducing a pilot recycling program as we write.
The program expects electric car makers to use their after-sale networks to facilitate this. This seems more logical than expecting EV battery manufacturers to pick up the tab. Since they have no direct retail operations to manage this. The Regulations on the Battery Recycling and Traceability Management Platform will ensure the power packs have unique identifiers for tracking electric vehicle batteries anywhere in China.
Chinese EV Battery Tracking System To Cover Entire Life Cycle

Online computer systems will trace each individual battery’s journey from production, through sales, usage, scrapping / second use, to recycling. Therefore this will probably provide the first comprehensive overview of a process set to become a feature of our lives.
Hence, China is not only doing this to manage potential environmental problems. It wants to recover valuable lithium, nickel, and cobalt minerals. However, retired electric vehicle batteries may first enjoy a second life as renewable energy storage.
This second-life application is more complex, since battery farms and private homeowners are end-users, not part of an after-sales service. China’s method for tracking electric car batteries appears to be a good start for tracing them wherever they may be.
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Preview Image: BYD All-Electric Taxi in Shenzhen, China