Improving the end-of-life management of electric vehicle batteries.
What changed between versions
New definitions were added for 'battery provider', 'secondary handler', 'secondary user', 'specialized battery recycler', 'orphaned battery', and 'propulsion battery management hierarchy' to clarify roles in the new system.
Responsibility for end-of-life battery management was shifted from vehicle manufacturers to the battery brand owner or distributor (battery provider), unless the battery was modified by a secondary handler.
New requirements mandate that specialized battery recyclers achieve specific material recovery rates (e.g., 90% for copper by 2031) and that all batteries be managed according to a reuse-remanufacture-recycle hierarchy.
A ban was added preventing solid waste facilities from accepting propulsion batteries for disposal, requiring them to be sent to authorized recyclers instead.
New requirements mandate that battery providers provide accessible battery state-of-health data to facilitate reuse and repair before recycling.
The fee structure was updated to apply to battery providers and secondary handlers, with fees deposited into a recycling account to fund program implementation and enforcement.
Key deadlines were adjusted, including a new registration date for battery providers in 2026 and a rule adoption deadline of December 31, 2028, with program requirements beginning January 1, 2029.
Enforcement mechanisms were strengthened to include written warnings for first violations, the ability to issue compliance orders, and penalties for failing to correct violations.
