North Star Recycling Collaborates with Qingdao Zhenqing Bus Group to Tackle the Surge of Retired Power Batteries Through High-Efficiency Recycling
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and other authorities have mandated that since 2016, passenger vehicle manufacturers must provide a warranty of at least 8 years or 120,000 kilometers for core components such as batteries, electronic controls, and motors (collectively known as the "three electric systems"). By the end of 2024, China's new energy vehicle (NEV) fleet had reached 31.4 million units, with a vast number of warranties expiring, triggering a nationwide "retirement wave." In Qingdao, the city has been progressively introducing pure electric buses since 2011, achieving 100% electrification of its 5,000+ public buses by 2023. Addressing the urgent disposal of retired power batteries has become a critical priority for the transportation industry chain.
Recently, North Star Advanced Recycling Technology (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. (referred to as North Star Recycling) partnered with Qingdao Zhenqing Bus Group to actively fulfill extended producer responsibility (EPR) for end-of-life power batteries. The collaboration ensured the standardized recycling and disposal of the first batch of retired batteries from 100 buses, recovering over 200 metric tons of decommissioned battery materials. As an MIIT-certified enterprise meeting the industry standards for comprehensive utilization of retired NEV power batteries, North Star Recycling possesses low-carbon recycling technologies and qualifications, enabling safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable battery recycling.
North Star Recycling’s team of professional engineers arrived at the bus depot in Huangdao District, Qingdao, to conduct on-site safe dismantling of the first batch of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs. This marks the launch of the Jiaodong Peninsula’s largest echelon utilization project for retired bus batteries, laying a critical foundation for Qingdao to establish a "recycling and utilization system for retired NEV power batteries" and achieve standardized, safe, and efficient battery reuse.
Tech-Driven Breakthroughs for High-Efficiency Recycling
North Star Recycling’s project team employs a multi-dimensional battery health assessment system, enabling rapid residual value testing of individual battery packs. An intelligent automated dismantling cluster ensures zero accidents and zero pollution throughout the process. After dismantling, the batteries are transported to North Star’s low-carbon green recycling flagship facility for further inspection and storage.
The facility utilizes self-developed smart equipment, including reconnaissance and handling robots and autonomous inspection robots, which conduct 24/7, full-coverage patrols. Real-time monitoring data is synchronized to a smart fire prevention cloud platform, enabling digitalized, visual tracking with instant alerts—maximizing operational safety.
Building an Optimized Closed-Loop Regeneration System
Through North Star’s comprehensive echelon utilization technology, the retired batteries are given a second life. After precision testing and health evaluation, battery units suitable for specific applications—such as forklifts, golf carts, portable medical devices, off-grid systems, and base station backup power—are redesigned, reassembled, and repackaged. This approach maximizes residual value, minimizes resource waste, and reduces environmental impact.
Additionally, North Star implements full-process digital traceability, assigning each battery a unique "digital ID" for end-to-end regulatory compliance.
North Star Recycling achieves near-zero pollutant emissions through closed-loop dismantling and hazard-free treatment, ensuring compliant recycling and risk mitigation. The echelon utilization of retired batteries not only extends their value chain and reduces mineral resource consumption but also delivers substantial carbon reduction benefits. Across the entire lifecycle, repurposed batteries generate over 60% lower carbon emissions compared to new battery production.
Co-Building Qingdao’s Retired Power Battery Recycling System
The successful large-scale, compliant recycling of 100+ tons of retired bus batteries in this project represents a critical milestone for Qingdao’s power battery recycling ecosystem. It marks a breakthrough in regional NEV industrial chain circularity while establishing a national model with its "standardized technology + replicable methodology" for retired battery management.
As China faces the 2024 wave of mass power battery retirements, this collaboration—leveraging Zhenqing Bus Group’s logistics network and North Star’s technical expertise—lays the foundation for a Jiaodong Peninsula-wide bus battery recycling system. Moving forward, North Star will accelerate the standardized recycling of retired batteries, strengthen Qingdao’s NEV and battery circular economy, and support the city’s ambition to become a national pilot for circular cities—ultimately scaling the "Qingdao Model" across China.
