Project Kick-Off: Harnessing the potential of old electric vehicles

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding a new graduate programme, Circular E-Cars, which focuses on recycling as an opportunity for the Rhineland region.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding a new graduate programme, Circular E-Cars, which focuses on recycling as an opportunity for the Rhineland region.

Electric vehicles contain significantly more valuable non-ferrous metals and new composite and plastic materials than conventional cars. As a result, the recycling of end-of-life electric vehicles has enormous potential that has not yet been fully exploited. Current manual dismantling processes are both time-consuming and expensive. The new Circular E-Cars graduate programme aims to address this challenge.

Ten professors from RWTH Aachen University, supported by the Centre for Circular Economy and other institutions, together with five professors from the University of Siegen, two research groups from Münster University of Applied Sciences, scientists from the Wuppertal Institute and industry partners, aim to make the Rhineland a leading European hub for research, development and innovation in the establishment of metal-focused recycling loops for electric cars.

“The vision of the project is to open up new ways of recycling different material flows from electric cars and to establish these processes in the Rhineland region,” explains Professor Peter Letmathe, spokesperson for the programme and Chair of Controlling at RWTH Aachen. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding the graduate programme with €8.4 million over the next four years.

Circular E-Cars is breaking new ground in the dismantling and material recycling of electric vehicles, strengthening the resilience of the value chain in Germany’s automotive sector, a key industry for the country. In addition to the technical aspects, the programme also focuses on business models, industrial sites and labour market skills, with an emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises. Circular E-Cars aims to create an innovation ecosystem that will create at least 7,000 jobs in the circular economy in the Rhineland and significantly improve the region’s sustainability.

REVIERa, Germany’s unique transformation platform, is bringing its extensive experience to support structural change in the Rhineland with a network of over 50 local stakeholders. The Wuppertal Institute, supported by the University of Siegen and Münster University of Applied Sciences, is driving the development of the Rhineland into a sustainable pioneering region with forward-looking strategies.

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Peter Letmathe and Felix May
Chair of Management Accounting of the RWTH Aachen
Tel:  +49 241 80-96500
E-Mail: may@controlling.rwth-aachen.de