Electric Dreams: Revolutionizing Recycling with a Visionary Center for EV Battery Renewal

At a press conference on Ho Chi Minh City’s socio-economic situation, Mr. Le Thanh Hai, Director of the Center for Applied Economic Consulting (Institute for Development Research of Ho Chi Minh City), shared a proposal to build an electric vehicle battery recycling center as a crucial part of the Project to convert 400,000 gasoline-powered motorcycles to electric ones in the city.

According to Mr. Hai, the recycling center is expected to have a capacity of approximately 3,000 tons of batteries per year, with technology capable of recovering up to 95% of precious metals from used batteries. This is not only an environmental pollution reduction solution but also contributes to ensuring the supply of strategic materials for the clean energy industry.

Currently, Vietnam has a electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant located in Ha Tinh with an investment of thousands of billions of VND. Notably, this plant has signed a cooperation agreement with Li-Cycle, a world-leading enterprise in electric vehicle battery recycling.

The collaboration includes battery supply, recycling, and research on investing in a recycling system right here in Vietnam. While waiting for domestic investment, Li-Cycle can use existing technology in Southeast Asian or other regional countries to process used batteries manufactured in Vietnam.

As Mr. Hai mentioned, electric vehicle batteries now contain many precious metals such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese, so recovery and recycling are inevitable trends. Modern recycling technology has allowed for the recovery of up to 90-95% of the materials in batteries while minimizing hazardous waste released into the environment.

In addition to recycling, many businesses are also investing in solutions to extend the life of batteries. This includes creative approaches such as reusing batteries with reduced efficiency for energy storage in factories, utilization in solar power systems, or even recycling them into energy panels.

These models not only improve economic efficiency but also help reduce industrial waste and carbon emissions during the operation of electric vehicles.

In the project to switch to electric vehicles, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Research proposes that the city encourages the construction of a standard-compliant battery recycling center. If it meets technical standards for safety, environment, and recovery efficiency, the city will consider providing financial support through preferential loans or grants from the Environmental Protection Fund.

According to the Law on Environmental Protection of 2020, battery manufacturers must pay a recycling fee. However, if a company invests in a standard-compliant recycling plant, it may be exempted from this fee and, at the same time, be responsible for organizing the collection and treatment of used batteries.

For units not directly producing batteries, the environmental fee must still be paid, and this will be a financial source for the State to support standard-compliant recycling facilities.

“It is expected that in the next 10 years, Ho Chi Minh City will establish a modern battery recycling center, reducing environmental pollution risks and promoting circular and sustainable economic development,” emphasized Mr. Hai.

To realize this goal, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Research proposes that the Department of Science and Technology coordinate with the Department of Industry and Trade to develop a detailed plan for collecting and treating old batteries, ensuring a clear and transparent process from the beginning.

At the same time, the city also needs to apply technical standards for the entire collection and recycling process, from sorting and transportation to treatment. Close monitoring will help minimize the risk of hazardous waste generation, protect community health, and safeguard the urban ecosystem.

TH (Tuoitrethudo)