Research on Recycling Strategies for New Energy Vehicle Waste Power Batteries Based on Consumer Responsibility Awareness

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors presented a manuscript on the topic of recycling batteries from electric vehicles based on consumer responsibility. The idea to consider this in the context as proposed is interesting, but there are many issues that are questionable - please find them below.

1. The title should not contain the word "Research".

2. There should be no bulleted conclusions in the abstract.

3. The introduction does not specify at all what methods are used for battery recycling, what their effects may be and what they specifically depend on (e.g. process conditions, the composition of initial material etc.).

4. Throughout the text, especially in point 2.3. the structure of the patterns should be organized - now they all overlap and are not separated in the content, which makes it difficult to read.

5. The figures are practically unreadable - they are too small.

6.  Only 22 publications were cited - as previously mentioned, there is no information on recycling methods, there are no comparisons to other countries, and the obtained results are not discussed in the context of the current literature.

7. The biggest drawback of the manuscript is that it does not actually show how consumers and their awareness influence the recycling of used batteries. The authors describe that this impact is existing (in the conclusions indicating that it is "high"), but where does it come from and how does it affect, for example, recycling costs? If consumers are obliged to properly dispose of waste batteries, as is the case in other countries - e.g. returning the waste battery when replacing it with a new one or separating the battery from a scrapped car by a recycling company, which is beyond the customer's reach, what is their role in shaping recycling costs? The efficiency and cost of battery recycling are mostly influenced by the selection of the appropriate processing technology. In my opinion, the research intention was interesting, but the results do not add anything new to the current state of the art in battery recycling.

Author Response

Description of paper modification

 

The revised content of the paper is as follows:

1. Replace the detailed statement of findings with a brief description in the abstract

 

2. The content of the management system for the recycling and utilization of waste batteries of NEV in some countries are added, such as the European Union, Japan, etc.;

 

3. Added literature on channel selection;

 

4. For the model construction and solution part, the solution process is deleted.
5. Major revision have been made to the model analysis part, which including:

• Detailed analysis is added which is the impact of consumers environmental protection responsibility awareness, third-party recycling and disposal of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficients, and informal channel recycling price on formal channel recycling price, recycling rate, customer expected profits and reverse supply chain profits;
• The analysis of the impact of third-party recycling of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficient and recycling price in informal channel of waste power batteries on consumers environmental protection responsibility awareness is added;
• The figures involved in this article have been changed.
  
  

6. Some suggestions and opinions are given based on the analysis results in conclusion part.

 

Content that has not been revised based on reviewer comments includes:

1. The content of the literature review has not increased too much, mainly because: 1) This paper mainly describes the impact of consumer environmental protection responsibility awareness on the recycling of waste power batteries, and there are relatively few literatures on this content; 2) The research on the influencing factors of recovery rate has been involved in the literature review of this paper Of course, there are also some literatures that have not been searched or read, resulting in a relatively thin literature review.
2. Since this article mainly discusses the impact of consumer environmental protection responsibility awareness, third-party recycling and disposal of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficients, recycling prices of waste power batteries in informal channels on recycling prices of formal channels, recovery rates , customer expected earnings ,and reverse supply chain earnings, which do not involve technical issues of recycling, so technical content of recycling are not added.
3. Because the model is relatively simple, the results and graphs are also relatively simple.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper deals with an interesting topic (I.e. recycling batteries based on consumer responsibility awareness) but unfortunately there are some shortcomings that must be addressed before  publication.

Introduction does not frame adequately the contribution in current relevant research on the topic and research novelties are not adequately identified. The introduction should be widely expanded; at the moment, it presents a very few partial information about implementation of reverse supply chain of power battery recycling. 

I feel that that several important references are missing in the current version.

I would suggest providing a more nuanced definition of "consumer responsibility awareness", the concept is somehow clear but I would suggest framing it more in the current literature. 

If possible o would suggest adding also a theoretical section that should clarify which is the main theoretical debate to which they contribute, the gap, the theoretical relevance of the issue, and its main implications and contributions.

 

Results are interesting; however, I think should be expanded a while for better understanding. I would suggest also to comment them directly with the relevant literature in this field.

 

Limitation of the research are just marginally presented and needs for further research should introduced.

 

Finally the paper is very difficult to read, English revision are needed to better present some aspects and make the reader fully aware of the results of the research. 

 

Author Response

Description of paper modification

 

The revised content of the paper is as follows:

1. Replace the detailed statement of findings with a brief description in the abstract

 

2. The content of the management system for the recycling and utilization of waste batteries of NEV in some countries are added, such as the European Union, Japan, etc.;

 

3. Added literature on channel selection;

 

4. For the model construction and solution part, the solution process is deleted.
5. Major revision have been made to the model analysis part, which including:

• Detailed analysis is added which is the impact of consumers environmental protection responsibility awareness, third-party recycling and disposal of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficients, and informal channel recycling price on formal channel recycling price, recycling rate, customer expected profits and reverse supply chain profits;
• The analysis of the impact of third-party recycling of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficient and recycling price in informal channel of waste power batteries on consumers environmental protection responsibility awareness is added;
• The figures involved in this article have been changed.
  
  

6. Some suggestions and opinions are given based on the analysis results in conclusion part.

 

Content that has not been revised based on reviewer comments includes:

1. The content of the literature review has not increased too much, mainly because: 1) This paper mainly describes the impact of consumer environmental protection responsibility awareness on the recycling of waste power batteries, and there are relatively few literatures on this content; 2) The research on the influencing factors of recovery rate has been involved in the literature review of this paper Of course, there are also some literatures that have not been searched or read, resulting in a relatively thin literature review.
2. Since this article mainly discusses the impact of consumer environmental protection responsibility awareness, third-party recycling and disposal of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficients, recycling prices of waste power batteries in informal channels on recycling prices of formal channels, recovery rates , customer expected earnings ,and reverse supply chain earnings, which do not involve technical issues of recycling, so technical content of recycling are not added.
3. Because the model is relatively simple, the results and graphs are also relatively simple.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors: 

I recommend:

-Explain the innovation of the research.

- Support the introduction with more references. The literature review is extremely poor.

- Clarify where the results start.

- Improve the discussion of results.

- I recommend putting more explanation and fewer equations.

Author Response

Description of paper modification

 

The revised content of the paper is as follows:

1. Replace the detailed statement of findings with a brief description in the abstract

 

2. The content of the management system for the recycling and utilization of waste batteries of NEV in some countries are added, such as the European Union, Japan, etc.;

 

3. Added literature on channel selection;

 

4. For the model construction and solution part, the solution process is deleted.
5. Major revision have been made to the model analysis part, which including:

• Detailed analysis is added which is the impact of consumers environmental protection responsibility awareness, third-party recycling and disposal of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficients, and informal channel recycling price on formal channel recycling price, recycling rate, customer expected profits and reverse supply chain profits;
• The analysis of the impact of third-party recycling of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficient and recycling price in informal channel of waste power batteries on consumers environmental protection responsibility awareness is added;
• The figures involved in this article have been changed.
  
  

6. Some suggestions and opinions are given based on the analysis results in conclusion part.

 

Content that has not been revised based on reviewer comments includes:

1. The content of the literature review has not increased too much, mainly because: 1) This paper mainly describes the impact of consumer environmental protection responsibility awareness on the recycling of waste power batteries, and there are relatively few literatures on this content; 2) The research on the influencing factors of recovery rate has been involved in the literature review of this paper Of course, there are also some literatures that have not been searched or read, resulting in a relatively thin literature review.
2. Since this article mainly discusses the impact of consumer environmental protection responsibility awareness, third-party recycling and disposal of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficients, recycling prices of waste power batteries in informal channels on recycling prices of formal channels, recovery rates , customer expected earnings ,and reverse supply chain earnings, which do not involve technical issues of recycling, so technical content of recycling are not added.
3. Because the model is relatively simple, the results and graphs are also relatively simple.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

As you mention, a large number of waste power batteries are facing "retirement" and it is urgent to effectively improve the recycling of target waste. A lot of effort is being made around the world to find a way to effectively dispose of waste power batteries. This paper will be of sufficient help in this situation. 

Nevertheless, I have doubts.

You only emphasized the importance of consumer responsibility awareness through a simple model. I think it is not enough.

Maybe you should also explain how to apply it in practice using the results of the model.

Or, you need to elaborate on how important the factors (consumer responsibility awareness, central/decentral, recycling profits, recycling price, etc.) you have chosen with an example (although it is briefly explained in the introduction section).

Relying too much on the model results is also a problem. The curves in figures is simple and regular. It is questionable whether the results can be trusted.

In all figures, explanations are unkind. At least, you should explain the meaning of the abbreviation.

Author Response

Description of paper modification

 

The revised content of the paper is as follows:

1. Replace the detailed statement of findings with a brief description in the abstract

 

2. The content of the management system for the recycling and utilization of waste batteries of NEV in some countries are added, such as the European Union, Japan, etc.;

 

3. Added literature on channel selection;

 

4. For the model construction and solution part, the solution process is deleted.
5. Major revision have been made to the model analysis part, which including:

• Detailed analysis is added which is the impact of consumers environmental protection responsibility awareness, third-party recycling and disposal of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficients, and informal channel recycling price on formal channel recycling price, recycling rate, customer expected profits and reverse supply chain profits;
• The analysis of the impact of third-party recycling of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficient and recycling price in informal channel of waste power batteries on consumers environmental protection responsibility awareness is added;
• The figures involved in this article have been changed.
  
  

6. Some suggestions and opinions are given based on the analysis results in conclusion part.

 

Content that has not been revised based on reviewer comments includes:

1. The content of the literature review has not increased too much, mainly because: 1) This paper mainly describes the impact of consumer environmental protection responsibility awareness on the recycling of waste power batteries, and there are relatively few literatures on this content; 2) The research on the influencing factors of recovery rate has been involved in the literature review of this paper Of course, there are also some literatures that have not been searched or read, resulting in a relatively thin literature review.
2. Since this article mainly discusses the impact of consumer environmental protection responsibility awareness, third-party recycling and disposal of waste power batteries, sales volume of new energy vehicles, recycling cost coefficients, recycling prices of waste power batteries in informal channels on recycling prices of formal channels, recovery rates , customer expected earnings ,and reverse supply chain earnings, which do not involve technical issues of recycling, so technical content of recycling are not added.
3. Because the model is relatively simple, the results and graphs are also relatively simple.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors made a thorough revision of the manuscript according to critical comments. In its present form, the paper is in a form that allows its publication.

Reviewer 2 Report

My comments were addressed, the paper can be published

Reviewer 3 Report

I agree with the corrections you made.

Reviewer 4 Report

I think that the comments pointed out in the first review were corrected well.

This revised manuscript may be published without further review.

However, like the first review, it seems that the figure's titles need to be revised.

For example, in case of Figure 4,

"Influence of parameter w (a), dm (b), Q (c), and p2 (d) between recycling rate (r) and consumer environmental protection responsibility awareness (B).