Brazil Senate approves electric vehicle battery recycling policy

The Brazilian Senate's Environment Commission has approved a bill to establish the National Policy for the Circularity of Vehicle Batteries. The legislation aims to create regulations for the reuse, traceability, and recycling of batteries from electric and hybrid vehicles.

The bill, originally proposed by Senator Jaques Wagner, was approved following a substitute report by Senator Confúcio Moura. The text includes an amendment from Senator Hamilton Mourão to allow flexibility in how reverse logistics are implemented, such as through sectoral agreements or specific regulations. This amendment was intended to prevent high operational costs and complexity from hindering the growth of the domestic electric vehicle industry.

The move comes as electric vehicle registrations in Brazil saw an 80% increase in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association (ABVE). The proposal now moves to the Chamber of Deputies.