Circularity for EV batteries: Integrating the circular supply chain and logistics perspectives

Research Project, 2024 – 2025

The electrification of transport is introducing many challenges related to both the transportation service but also the transportation vehicle where the lithium-ion battery is a significant component. The technological uncertainty around electric vehicles (EVs) which is coupled with the extensive dependency of EV batteries on rare earth materials is driving the agenda about how these batteries will be used during their multiple life cycles. On the other hand, the circular economy has become a strong trend that is shaping the path towards a more sustainable development. Integrating a circularity approach to products, services and business models is required for a more efficient resource use and reduction of waste through industrial activity. Considering that the EVs are in their early stages of entering into conventional markets, it is important to design a circular supply chain for EV batteries that consider the whole life cycle including reuse, repurpose or recycling stages. Any supply chain is dependent on logistics services to facilitate the flows between actors but very little is known about how the logistics of EV batteries is to be performed for a well-functioning circular supply chain. Given the understudied area of logistics services to facilitate the EV battery supply chain, this project will: 

- Identify the actors and activities required to build circular battery supply chains and facilitate the flows within them, focusing on the role of logistics services 

- Develop the logistics service structures that facilitate the flows within these supply chain structures 

- Assessing the performance of the circular supply chain structures for reusing, repurposing and recycling of EV batteries taking into account logistics services 

The intended users are EV manufacturers, potential customers/users of EV batteries in their multiple life cycles and logistics service providers that will take part in facilitating the flows of batteries across their multiple life cycles.