Challenges and needs in future circular material systems for electric and autonomous vehicles

Research Project, 2018 – 2019

The development towards electrical and autonomous vehicles will trigger the increased use of components such as sensors, cameras, antennas, GPS devices, electronic windows and boards, which contain critical elements. Also, to save weight, and thereby energy, new advanced lightweight materials and composites will be increasingly used. At the same time, legislation and policy calls for higher rate of recycling, and increased share in the upper part of the waste hierarchy. These emergent smart components and materials need both efficient recycling processes and recycling supply chains, effective for all actors of the system.

The research purpose of the project is to develop understanding of the future requirements of and conditions for effective recycling systems for components and materials introduced for electric and autonomous vehicles. A secondary purpose is to build cooperation between the two research groups in the area of recycling, and in a wider perspective between the two research centres to which they belong, CCR and Northern LEAD.