CityU Team Wins HK$6.7M Funding to Revive Retired EV Batteries, Cut E-Waste
RTHK · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A research team from City University of Hong Kong has secured HK$6.7 million in funding to develop technology that could give retired electric vehicle batteries a second life. The project, led by Professor Chung Shu-hung from the Department of Electrical Engineering, focuses on creating a smart power regulator designed to extend the usability of decommissioned EV batteries, addressing both environmental concerns and the anticipated surge of battery waste in the coming decade.
Key Points
- City University's Department of Electrical Engineering professor Chung Shu-hung leads a team awarded HK$6.7 million from the Low-Carbon Green Innovation Fund
- The team developed a smart power regulator to revitalize retired EV batteries, which typically retain 70-80% of their original capacity after 8-10 years of vehicle use
- By 2030, Hong Kong is expected to have 20,000 retired EVs; using batteries from 10,000 of these vehicles could generate approximately 520,000 kWh annually
- Retired batteries cost only 30-40% of new batteries, making them economically viable for alternative applications like powering construction sites
- The Low-Carbon Green Innovation Fund, established 6 years ago, has approved 39 projects totaling approximately HK$171 million
- Climate Change Commissioner Yeung Sau-kuen stated the fund's HK$400 million allocation can sustain operations for several years
- The team recommends processing retired batteries locally in Hong Kong due to safety concerns about transporting heavy batteries and to create employment opportunities
- Of the 39 approved projects, 24 have been completed, including advanced industrial wastewater treatment technology being promoted to the Greater Bay Area and Yangtze River Delta
Why It Matters
As Hong Kong transitions to electric mobility, the potential environmental burden of thousands of retiring EV batteries represents a significant challenge. This research offers a sustainable solution by repurposing batteries for secondary applications, reducing electronic waste while creating economic value. The project aligns with Hong Kong's broader green technology ambitions and could serve as a model for managing the global EV battery retirement wave expected in the 2030s .
As Hong Kong transitions to electric mobility, the potential environmental burden of thousands of retiring EV batteries represents a significant challenge. This research offers a sustainable solution by repurposing batteries for secondary applications, reducing electronic waste while creating economic value. The project aligns with Hong Kong's broader green technology ambitions and could serve as a model for managing the global EV battery retirement wave expected in the 2030s .