The first stage of the EoL‐EV framework is to define the challenges in EoL management of EV components as described in Section 7.3.1. This is achieved by focusing on four specific considerations which are illustrated in Figure 7.8 and discussed in following sections.
Characteristics of EoL product and material stream 7.5.1
The EoL stream can be defined in terms of the macroscopic and microscopic features.
Macroscopic characteristics refer to the product design itself, such as the construction, while the microscopic characteristics relate to the fundamental constitution of the product, such as material composition.
The increasing electrification in automotive industry implicates the demand of understanding EV components. The increased use of integrated electronics within the components, and the increasing sophisticated techniques using electronic parts make the vehicle recycling more complicated. Further complications for vehicle recycling arise due to the material composition
Characteristics co nstru ction
Material
changes for weight reduction or other specific functionality requirements, and vehicle component changes for better performance and driving experience. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the knowledge and identify the targeted EV components and materials, especially when they reach the EoL stage. techniques. Chapter 4 provides an overview of current ELV recycling technologies and processes with the analysis of their advantages and disadvantages. Despite the economic and sustainable advantages of current recovery and recycling activities in automotive industry, studies would suggest that existing component dismantling cannot make substantial headway into improving the recycling and recovery targets laid down by the ELV directive, as the majority of extracted and recovered materials are metallic and are currently counted within
the assumed recycled fraction processes. Hence, this research has argued that future of EoL EV recycling should concentrate on the pre‐concentration process through robotic disassembly, and the development of new technologies for post‐fragmentation. The consideration for improvement in material recovery through post‐fragmentation, however, is beyond the scope of this research. Therefore, this research focuses on making the disassembly process economically viable and technologically feasible, and increasing value gained from EoL EVs recycling. In this case, it is a necessity not only to determine when and if EV component disassembly becomes economically feasible, but also to consider the selection of components and the development of disassembly methods for target sub‐assemblies and materials.
Specification of legislative requirements and constraints 7.5.3
The legislative requirements for EoL management solution are defined after the characteristics of the EoL stream and the assessment of the existing vehicle recycling techniques. The consideration consists of general requirements (i.e. general legislation regarding waste and landfill management), and more specific constraints on recycling vehicles (ELV Directive), electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE Directive) and hazardous materials (RoHS Directive).
Economic viability of the EV recycling 7.5.4
Typically, the recycling consists of removing reusable components, shredding and separating remaining materials for material recovery. Profitability depends on the quantity and type of components and materials recovered. Because the components and materials difference between the EVs and traditional vehicles, the profitability may be affected. Therefore, there is a need to understand the technologies for the EV components that cannot use traditional vehicle recycling methods and its economic impact. In order to achieve a long‐term sustainability of the EoL solution in automotive industry, the economic implications need to be understood and must not be prohibitive to the profitability of ELV recycling and recovery.
Based on the data available in the current research, following the classification of the targeted components, the framework requires economic consideration for the EV recycling. The targeted EV components are classified into different categories based on permutation of its construction (simple, medium and complex) and recovery value (low, medium and high). This classification provides a comparison mechanism for further development and assessment of the automated robotic approach. An economic model will be developed to quantify the cost implementing a proposed EoL automated approach and revenues generated from the recovery of valuable materials from the disassembly processes.
7.6 Application of the EoL‐EV framework
Case studies explored the application of the framework in different situations. In this application, the framework is employed to evaluate the effects of automation in disassembly processes. Additionally, specific EoL solutions of target components are differentiated not only by the material and construction characteristics but also by the capability and efficiency of the automated robotic disassembly operations.
As a flexible tool, the framework supports the evaluation of various EoL scenarios, and identification of preferred solutions, based on the three considerations: environmental, economic and technological aspects. Case studies explore three categories of components, in terms of different constructions and values: they are 1) simple, low value component; medium, high value component; and complex, low value component. In these modes of applications, the framework is used to evaluate the effects of automation in robotic disassembly processes under different component designs.
7.7 Chapter summary
In this chapter, the EoL‐EV framework has been presented and each of the stages in the framework described in detail. Chapter 1 and 2 provide the research context and identify the research aim and objectives. Chapter 3 – 5 present a holistic review regarding the most relevant literature to support the definition of research. Methodological approaches adopted within the research are outlined in Chapter 6. The overview of the EoL‐EV framework is presented in the earlier part of Chapter 7, and the first stage of the framework is reported in the rest of Chapter 7. The second stage of the framework, the development of an automated robotic disassembly approach for EV recycling, is explored in detail in Chapter 8. Chapter 9 continues by reporting the research supporting the third stage of the framework, namely the development of an EoL assessment for EV recycling. Finally, the application of the complete EoL‐EV framework is demonstrated through case studies documented in Chapter 10.