A New Business Model for the Circular Economy of Electric Vehicles

Abstract The market for electrical vehicles (EVs) is expected to show constant growth in the next years. However, Europe is not prepared to manage such a massive flow of electric vehicles at the End-of-Life (EoL). Consolidated value chains including recyclers, remanufacturers, and dismantlers able to treat key parts of EVs efficiently and safely at the EoL (such as batteries) do not exist at the needed industrial scale due to their novelty and complexity which requires innovative technologies and methods. Furthermore, the huge uncertainty on the volume of parts, their EoL conditions, materials cost fluctuations, and market acceptability discourage companies from starting new recycling/remanufacturing businesses. This carries the risk of delaying the consolidation of European value chains specialized in the EoL management of EVs. In order to address these challenges, the present research, which was carried out in the frame of the H2020 “CarE-Service” European-funded project, proposes a new circular business model for the EoL management of EVs.