Information Strategies in the Electric Vehicles Battery Reverse Supply Chain with Blockchain Technology

The surge in demand for electric vehicles (EV) and EV batteries, coupled with supply chain vulnerabilities and price instability, has driven the need for efficient and sustainable EV battery recycling processes. This report investigates the potential of blockchain technology to address the challenges in the EV battery reverse supply chain (moving goods from the end customer back towards the manufacturer), focusing on enhancing transparency and coordination, as well as mitigating the impact of unregulated recycling. Key stakeholders in this analysis include manufacturers, recyclers, and regulatory bodies. To achieve these objectives, the study employs a mixed-methods approach. It includes semi-structured interviews with industry experts from EV and battery manufacturing companies to gather qualitative insights into the current challenges and the potential of blockchain technology. Furthermore, the study used a model based on the Stackelberg game theory to analyze the impact of blockchain adoption on the behavior and profitability of supply chain members, specifically focusing on the interaction between regulated and unregulated recyclers. The findings show that blockchain technology can offer significant benefits to the EV battery reverse supply chain. Specifically, blockchain adoption can increase the total recycling quantity, provided that the implementation costs are relatively low. Additionally, blockchain can help empower regulated recyclers to achieve higher buyback prices and recycling quantities compared to unregulated recyclers, enhancing the competitiveness of responsible recycling practices. However, the adoption of blockchain technology depends on its cost-effectiveness and the intensity of competition within the recycling sector. These results highlight the importance of strategic blockchain implementation and regulatory support to foster a sustainable and efficient EV battery recycling ecosystem, which supports a sustainable transportation industry.