Decarbonization and resource efficiency are two major challenges facing the mobility sector in the coming years. Technological innovations, an adapted economic model and a supportive political framework are essential for a net zero transition across the value chain. The Laboratory for Sustainable Technologies studies practical circular mobility solutions to support the goals laid out in landmark political regulations such as the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan. Circular innovations within the mobility sector and learnings from other industries are being analysed, to assess which technologies and measures in production, use and disposal can minimize or avoid material waste and environmental pollution.

The Pilot4CircuLEV project aims to develop, test and evaluate strategies and measures to improve resource productivity in the Light Electric Vehicle sector (LEV). By setting up a pilot factory, resource efficiency measures in product design and innovative recycling and recovery processes will be developed. The prototypical implementation of a closed-loop system for LEV components and materials enables the collection of usage and production data for the creation of life cycle prediction models. The development of assessment tools enables the estimation of the ecological

The Pilot4CircuLEV project aims to develop, test and evaluate strategies and measures to improve resource productivity in the light electric vehicle sector. By setting up a pilot factory, resource efficiency measures in product design and innovative recycling and recovery processes will be developed. The prototypical implementation of a closed-loop system for LEV components and materials will enable the collection of usage and production data for the creation of lifetime prediction models. Evaluation tools will be developed to assess the environmental benefits of different EOL strategies for the product-service system.  The aim is to provide a decision basis for data-based sustainable life cycle management of Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs). By evaluating 1st-use strategies, adaptive 2nd-use strategies for recyclable LEVs will be identified and derived.

The project is being carried out jointly with the company elorec GmbH, the company ARI Motors and the Bergische Universität Wuppertal. TIER Mobility SE is working with the project consortium as an associated partner.

Project duration: 01.07.2023 - 30.06.2025

Funding provider: Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Project sponsor: Research Centre Jülich

Funding reference: 033RK110D