Back to TasksTask 52
Electric Vehicles and Circularity
Task 52 “Electric Vehicles and Circularity” was proposed during the 58th annual executive committee meeting in Eskilstuna, Sweden and is set to run until 2027. Task 52 aims to analyse, discuss, and document the main challenges and opportunities for electric vehicles and their different components towards reaching circularity.
The topic of circularity is of critical importance when considering the future of the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry, especially when thinking of the wider environmental impacts.
Reaching circularity, besides climate neutrality, is one of the main challenges of our global society and economy. The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended (Figure 1).
Circularity is relevant for all products and services for EVs and their components. The relevance and implementation of circularity issues in all economic activities are strongly increasing in the development and production of (new) products and services.
EVs (including their components e.g. battery, and electronics) have specific challenges to reach circularity, which must be identified, addressed, and solved adequately. Circularity issues are relevant in all phases of the life cycle of an electric vehicle – production, use and end of life, so circularity is strongly linked to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of EVs.
Internationally it is increasingly recognised that the steps towards more circularity is reached by the 9Rs – Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle and Recover. The 9Rs are a circular economic framework that examines how materials can be used and reused at their highest value while minimising waste and environmental destruction.
Objectives
In the task recommendations and actions to reach circularity of EVs for decisions makers and stakeholders in industry, government and research are identified and documented.
The task starts with an analysis of the current aspects of circularity issues of EVs today, and then potential future developments to increase circularity will be analysed and assessed.
All (intermediate) results are documented and disseminated. The task work is split in three main parts (Figure 2):
- Possibilities and case studies to assess circularity
- Use cases for circularity
- Dissemination & management
Task 52 “Electric Vehicles and Circularity” was proposed during the 58th annual executive committee meeting in Eskilstuna, Sweden and is set to run until 2027. Task 52 aims to analyse, discuss, and document the main challenges and opportunities for electric vehicles and their different components towards reaching circularity.
The topic of circularity is of critical importance when considering the future of the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry, especially when thinking of the wider environmental impacts.
Reaching circularity, besides climate neutrality, is one of the main challenges of our global society and economy. The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended (Figure 1).
Circularity is relevant for all products and services for EVs and their components. The relevance and implementation of circularity issues in all economic activities are strongly increasing in the development and production of (new) products and services.
EVs (including their components e.g. battery, and electronics) have specific challenges to reach circularity, which must be identified, addressed, and solved adequately. Circularity issues are relevant in all phases of the life cycle of an electric vehicle – production, use and end of life, so circularity is strongly linked to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of EVs.
Internationally it is increasingly recognised that the steps towards more circularity is reached by the 9Rs – Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle and Recover. The 9Rs are a circular economic framework that examines how materials can be used and reused at their highest value while minimising waste and environmental destruction.
Objectives
In the task recommendations and actions to reach circularity of EVs for decisions makers and stakeholders in industry, government and research are identified and documented.
The task starts with an analysis of the current aspects of circularity issues of EVs today, and then potential future developments to increase circularity will be analysed and assessed.
All (intermediate) results are documented and disseminated. The task work is split in three main parts (Figure 2):
- Possibilities and case studies to assess circularity
- Use cases for circularity
- Dissemination & management