IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i7p2922-d1620350.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Resource Benefit Evaluation of Lithium Recovery from New-Energy Vehicle Batteries

Author

Listed:
  • Zhen Chen

    (College of Information and Management Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Haizhou Zhou

    (College of Information and Management Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Shuwei Jia

    (College of Information and Management Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

Abstract

With the popularity of new-energy vehicles, the recovery and reuse of lithium-ion battery (LIB) resources have become topics of great concern. This study explores the risks of the lithium resource chain in terms of supply–demand balance and lithium resource criticality. We propose a prediction algorithm for lithium production based on reverse-order MT-EGM-SD (metabolism–even grey model–system dynamics), upon which a system dynamics model for lithium resource recycling and reuse is constructed. We use dynamic simulation to evaluate the benefits of lithium resource recovery and the effects of different LIB recovery strategies. The results show that LIB recycling strategies, such as enhancing subsidy levels and strengthening public awareness initiatives, can significantly increase lithium resource recovery rates. From a medium- and long-term perspective, however, the technological progress strategy can greatly reduce lithium consumption intensity in the battery. Cascade use policy has significant economic benefits, but it delays the recycling of secondary raw materials. Under the joint strategy with the best resource efficiency (stringent government recycling regulations and significant advancements in battery production technology), the lithium supply–demand balance and the lithium resource recovery rate increase by 301.89% and 795.65%, respectively. Meanwhile, lithium resource chain risk, lithium criticality, and actual lithium demand decrease by 18.77%, 18.86%, and 75.11%, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhen Chen & Haizhou Zhou & Shuwei Jia, 2025. "Resource Benefit Evaluation of Lithium Recovery from New-Energy Vehicle Batteries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2922-:d:1620350
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/2922/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/2922/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liu, Donghui & Gao, Xiangyun & An, Haizhong & Qi, Yabin & Wang, Ze & Jia, Nanfei & Chen, Zhihua, 2020. "Exploring behavior changes of the lithium market in China: Toward technology-oriented future scenarios," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    2. Martinez-Laserna, E. & Gandiaga, I. & Sarasketa-Zabala, E. & Badeda, J. & Stroe, D.-I. & Swierczynski, M. & Goikoetxea, A., 2018. "Battery second life: Hype, hope or reality? A critical review of the state of the art," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 701-718.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gu, Xubo & Bai, Hanyu & Cui, Xiaofan & Zhu, Juner & Zhuang, Weichao & Li, Zhaojian & Hu, Xiaosong & Song, Ziyou, 2024. "Challenges and opportunities for second-life batteries: Key technologies and economy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    2. Hee Seung Moon & Won Young Park & Thomas Hendrickson & Amol Phadke & Natalie Popovich, 2025. "Exploring the cost and emissions impacts, feasibility and scalability of battery electric ships," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 41-54, January.
    3. Shahjalal, Mohammad & Roy, Probir Kumar & Shams, Tamanna & Fly, Ashley & Chowdhury, Jahedul Islam & Ahmed, Md. Rishad & Liu, Kailong, 2022. "A review on second-life of Li-ion batteries: prospects, challenges, and issues," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    4. Wang, Mengmeng & Liu, Kang & Dutta, Shanta & Alessi, Daniel S. & Rinklebe, Jörg & Ok, Yong Sik & Tsang, Daniel C.W., 2022. "Recycling of lithium iron phosphate batteries: Status, technologies, challenges, and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    5. Maria A. Franco & Stefan N. Groesser, 2021. "A Systematic Literature Review of the Solar Photovoltaic Value Chain for a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-35, August.
    6. Chiara Giosuè & Daniele Marchese & Matteo Cavalletti & Robertino Isidori & Massimo Conti & Simone Orcioni & Maria Letizia Ruello & Pierluigi Stipa, 2021. "An Exploratory Study of the Policies and Legislative Perspectives on the End-of-Life of Lithium-Ion Batteries from the Perspective of Producer Obligation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-19, October.
    7. Nguyen-Tien, Viet & Dai, Qiang & Harper, Gavin D.J. & Anderson, Paul A. & Elliott, Robert J.R., 2022. "Optimising the geospatial configuration of a future lithium ion battery recycling industry in the transition to electric vehicles and a circular economy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    8. White, Chris & Thompson, Ben & Swan, Lukas G., 2021. "Comparative performance study of electric vehicle batteries repurposed for electricity grid energy arbitrage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    9. Song, Huiling & Wang, Chang & Sun, Kun & Geng, Hongjun & Zuo, Lyushui, 2023. "Material efficiency strategies across the industrial chain to secure indium availability for global carbon neutrality," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    10. Kristóf Kummer & Attila R. Imre, 2021. "Seasonal and Multi-Seasonal Energy Storage by Power-to-Methane Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-13, June.
    11. Zheng, Shuxian & Tan, Zhanglu & Xing, Wanli & Zhou, Xuanru & Zhao, Pei & Yin, Xiuqi & Hu, Han, 2022. "A comparative exploration of the chaotic characteristics of Chinese and international copper futures prices," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    12. Joern Falk & Björn Globisch & Martin Angelmahr & Wolfgang Schade & Heike Schenk-Mathes, 2022. "Drinking Water Supply in Rural Africa Based on a Mini-Grid Energy System—A Socio-Economic Case Study for Rural Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, August.
    13. Emanuele Michelini & Patrick Höschele & Florian Ratz & Michael Stadlbauer & Werner Rom & Christian Ellersdorfer & Jörg Moser, 2023. "Potential and Most Promising Second-Life Applications for Automotive Lithium-Ion Batteries Considering Technical, Economic and Legal Aspects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.
    14. Christos S. Ioakimidis & Alberto Murillo-Marrodán & Ali Bagheri & Dimitrios Thomas & Konstantinos N. Genikomsakis, 2019. "Life Cycle Assessment of a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Electric Vehicle Battery in Second Life Application Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-14, May.
    15. Zongwei Liu & Xinglong Liu & Han Hao & Fuquan Zhao & Amer Ahmad Amer & Hassan Babiker, 2020. "Research on the Critical Issues for Power Battery Reusing of New Energy Vehicles in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-19, April.
    16. Phuong-Ha La & Sung-Jin Choi, 2020. "Novel Dynamic Resistance Equalizer for Parallel-Connected Battery Configurations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-17, June.
    17. Hoarau, Quentin & Lorang, Etienne, 2022. "An assessment of the European regulation on battery recycling for electric vehicles," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    18. Song, Ziyou & Feng, Shuo & Zhang, Lei & Hu, Zunyan & Hu, Xiaosong & Yao, Rui, 2019. "Economy analysis of second-life battery in wind power systems considering battery degradation in dynamic processes: Real case scenarios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    19. Comello, Stephen & Glenk, Gunther & Reichelstein, Stefan, 2020. "Cost-efficient transition to clean energy transportation services," ZEW Discussion Papers 20-054, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    20. Dileep, Hemanth & Jha, Kaushal Kumar & Mahapatra, Pallab Sinha & Pattamatta, Arvind, 2024. "Thermal characterization of pouch cell using infrared thermography and electrochemical modelling for the Design of Effective Battery Thermal Management System," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 376(PB).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2922-:d:1620350. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.