Approach For Optimized Dismantling Strategies And Design For Recycling Of Electric Traction Drives

Abstract

With the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), there arises a pressing need for sustainable processing of electric traction drives (ETDs) at the end of their life cycles. Current methods for dismantling and recycling ETDs often show inefficiencies in material recovery causing economic disadvantages and increased environmental impact. Of particular relevance is the recycling of rare earth (RE) magnets, which are extensively used in ETDs because of their superior magnetic properties. Given the scarcity of rare earth elements and the environmental impact associated with their extraction, the need for efficient RE magnet recycling is of key importance. However, there is currently a lack of efficient dismantling processes and recyclability is often inadequate. By developing an optimized approach that focuses on adapted dismantling strategies and design for recycling, a critical gap in the sustainable production and disposal of electric vehicles will be closed. A crucial aspect is the design for recycling, enabling efficient recovery and reuse of materials and components. The approach presented in this paper combines different aspects such as material composition, modularity of components, standardization and good separability to optimize the design for recycling of ETDs. By providing optimized dismantling strategies as well as guidelines for the design for recycling, the transition to more environmentally sustainable transport systems is supported in addition to increased economic efficiency.