KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 -- When you see headlines warning that Malaysia will need to recycle 870,000 electric vehicle (EV) batteries by 2050, it's easy to feel alarmed. The number, cited in a recent Malay Mail article, suggests a looming waste crisis from EV adoption. But is that really the case? Or are we applying outdated assumptions to a fast-evolving technology?

And while I agree with the overall goal - Malaysia absolutely needs to build up its battery recycling ecosystem - some of the projections may overlook important developments in battery longevity, second-life use cases, and the evolving role of recycling in an established circular economy.

Let's unpack a few of the claims.

Claim 1: EV batteries typically last eight to 10 year...