What affects consumers' intention to recycle retired EV batteries in China?

Due to the popularization and development of electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide, batteries that have been used are being retired and replaced. In battery recycling, consumers often face problems, such as high replacement prices for batteries and the lack of subsidies and support. A total of 567 valid questionnaires were collected throughout China. To understand consumers' intention to recycle EVs' retired batteries, a study using the theory of planned behavior, value-belief-norm (VBN) theory, and the benefit-risk analysis (BRA) model was combined with three extended factors, namely, recycling experience, policy incentives and product after-sales. The results of the study show that the positive effects of perceived behavioral control, subjective norms and VBN causal chains on intention to recycle are more evident. Furthermore, the results of a multigroup analysis of age, car ownership and regional groups show significant differences in demographic variables in terms of influencing consumers’ intention to recycle retired batteries. The findings of this study can better clarify the intention of consumers to recycle batteries, thereby providing a basis for the government and enterprises to formulate policies and measures.