Electromobility: second life for electric motors

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An increasing number of electric cars are being sold, consequently raising the quantity of produced electric motors. At the end of their useful life, these electric motors are shredded and then recycled. The individual components and assemblies cannot be reused. So far, there has been a lack of sustainable value retention strategies for remanufacturing and recycling electric motors as part of a modern circular economy. In the REASSERT project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA are working alongside industry partners to pursue various concepts for repairing, remanufacturing and reusing electric motors as well as new designs for the circular economy.

www.fraunhofer.de/en.html, Jan. 02, 2024 – 

The electrification of the powertrain is continuously progressing. The electric motors used contain valuable raw materials such as copper as well as rare earth metals like neodymium, where China holds a quasi-monopoly, and which cannot be recovered with current recycling methods. Hence, extending the usage phase of the motors is increasingly important. Furthermore, the raw materials used have a bigger carbon footprint compared to a combustion engine. Because of this, it is crucial to extend the use phase of these motors. "Innovative value retention strategies offer significant potential for emission reduction in terms of sustainability," says Julian Große Erdmann, scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA in Bayreuth. As part of the REASSERT project, researchers are collaborating with Schaeffler (consortium leader), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, BRIGHT Testing GmbH, iFAKT GmbH and Riebesam GmbH & Co. KG to develop innovative methods for remanufacturing electric motors and reusing them in vehicles. They focus on the value retention strategies of reuse, repair, remanufacture and raw material recycling. These are key elements for a circular economy, enabling the reduction of natural resource consumption and minimization of waste. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

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