End-of-Life Strategies for Light Electric Vehicles, exemplified by E-Cargo Bikes

Brief Description

The KREISRAD collaborative project aims to establish and optimize the circularity of Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs), using e-cargo bikes as an example.
To this end, various End-of-Life Strategies (EoLS) are investigated and evaluated in comparison with lifespan-extending measures, in order to reduce the environmental impact of e-cargo bikes and – through transferability – also that of other LEVs.

In the project, an e-cargo bike will be examined for its resilience and lifespan, potential EoLS will be developed, and these results will be assessed for their sustainability in a life cycle analysis.
A Digital Product Passport, to be developed, will support this by storing relevant information beyond the product's life cycle.

Based on these findings, a prototype will be developed. Finally, the insights gained will be documented in a practical guide for the LEV industry, enabling manufacturers to implement circularity and longevity effectively in both the short and long term.

The specific research objectives are:

1. Development of a circular economy approach for the entire e-cargo bike, considering the supply chain.
   
   
2. Development of a test bench and lifespan prediction models for safety/function-critical components with benchmark characteristics.
   
   
3. Sustainability assessment of EoLS for e-cargo bikes and development of a decision model for weighing longevity against various EoLS for the components under consideration.
   
   
4. Development of a Digital Product Passport for traceability of the e-cargo bike and its components throughout its life cycle.
   
   
5. Construction of a prototype e-cargo bike optimized for circularity and long-term durability.

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Work Plan

The work plan is divided into six work packages:

• Analysis and Conception
  Investigation of key components, materials, and supply chains of the e-cargo bike; definition of common methods and data structures. Development of a test bench and accelerated tests for predicting the remaining lifespan of safety- and function-critical components.
• Evaluation of Potential End-of-Life Strategies
  Identification and evaluation of suitable strategies (e.g., reuse, refurbishment, recycling) from the perspective of manufacturers and recycling companies.
• Sustainability Assessment
  Development of a decision model for the ecological, economic, and social assessment of the investigated options.
• Construction of a Prototype
  Building an e-cargo bike that integrates the insights gained regarding longevity and circularity.
• Establishing the Basis for Long-Term Implementation
  Development of a Digital Product Passport, creation of a practice-oriented guide, and conducting a workshop for results dissemination.
• Project Management and Scientific Qualification
  Project organization, documentation, publication, and knowledge transfer.

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Our Role

elorec GmbH contributes the perspective of a recycling company to the KREISRAD project and supports the development, evaluation, and practical classification of End-of-Life Strategies for e-cargo bikes. elorec provides practical knowledge and data from dismantling and recycling processes, analyzes the recyclability and reusability of key components, and participates in weighing suitable strategies. Furthermore, requirements and experiences from operational practice are incorporated into the sustainability assessment and the decision model, ensuring that the results are realistically applicable and can be effectively transferred into the guide, workshop, and the planned Digital Product Passport.