Six Departments Ban Used EV Batteries from E-Bike Market, Exposing Risks of Repurposed Cells

Recently, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and five other government departments jointly issued a notice explicitly prohibiting the use of retired power batteries from new energy vehicles (NEVs) in applications such as electric bicycles. The notice also abolishes the previous "cascade utilization" policy and fully implements a "vehicle-battery integrated scrappage" system. However, driven by the appeal of high range and low prices, some merchants continue to illegally sell so-called "salvaged batteries"—batteries removed from scrapped NEVs and crudely reassembled for use in electric bicycles. These batteries, valued for their low cost and extended range, are particularly popular among food delivery riders and similar users. According to industry insiders, approximately 80% of NEVs sent to dismantling facilities are already missing their batteries, as most are intercepted and resold through informal channels before official scrappage. Profit margins from a single battery can reach several thousand to over ten thousand yuan. Such "cottage-industry" battery repackaging lacks standardized procedures, resulting in poor battery consistency and compromised safety—posing serious safety hazards.