Policy Iteration and Patent Technology Evolution for Power Battery Recycling of Electric Vehicles in China (2015–2025)

Abstract

In the context of large-scale power battery retirement and increasing resource constraints, how policy evolution shapes innovation pathways in battery recycling has become a critical issue in environmental and resource governance. This study develops and visualizes a “Policy Evolution–Patent Innovation” analytical framework for China (2015 - 2025) to examine their underlying interaction mechanisms. The results show that policies - particularly strengthened extended producer responsibility and recycling standards - significantly drive patent growth and expand innovation actors. Innovation follows a policy- driven, firm-led, and efficiency- and cost-oriented trajectory, with pronounced geographical concentration. By adopting a co-evolutionary perspective, this study provides a systematic framework and policy-relevant insights for the sustainable development of the power battery recycling sector.