Japan may require automakers to collect used electric vehicle batteries under the country's auto recycling law as EV battery waste increases, Nikkei Asia reported on Tuesday.
Two ministries drafted a report last week outlining policy measures and plan to establish a working group this summer, the publication said.
Currently, 14 domestic and 18 foreign automakers voluntarily participate in battery collection, but rising disposal volumes threaten this arrangement, the news daily said.
The Environment Ministry estimates the number of discarded EV batteries will surge from 50,000 in fiscal 2026 to 400,000 in fiscal 2040, the report said.
Mandatory collection would address fire risks from lithium-ion batteries while boosting Japan's self-sufficiency in critical metals such as lithium and cobalt, according to the report.
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