Search Results (36)

The growing need to improve the management of end-of-life vehicle (ELV) waste and mitigate its environmental impact is a global concern. One promising approach to enhancing the recyclability of these vehicles is leveraging synergies between the automotive and construction industries as part of a circular economy strategy. In this context, ELV waste emerges as a valuable source of secondary raw materials, enabling the development of sustainable innovations that capitalize on its physical and mechanical properties. This paper aims to develop and evaluate construction industry composites incorporating waste from ELV carpets, with a focus on maintaining or enhancing performance compared to conventional materials. To achieve this, an experimental program was designed to assess cementitious composites, specifically subfloor mortars, incorporating automotive carpet waste (ACW). The results demonstrate that, beyond the physical and mechanical properties of the developed composites, the dynamic stiffness significantly improved across all tested waste incorporation levels. This finding highlights the potential of these composites as an alternative material for impact noise insulation in flooring systems. From an academic perspective, this research advances knowledge on the application of ACW in cement-based composites for construction. In terms of managerial contributions, two key market opportunities emerge: (1) the commercial exploitation of composites produced with ELV carpet waste and (2) the development of a network of environmental service providers to ensure a stable waste supply chain for innovative and sustainable products. Both strategies contribute to reducing landfill disposal and mitigating the environmental impact of ELV waste, reinforcing the principles of the circular economy. Full article

Plastic waste is currently a major concern in Romania due to the annual increase in quantities generated from anthropogenic and industrial activities, especially from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), and the need to reduce environmental impact. This study investigates an alternative valorization route for polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) plastic waste through microwave-assisted pyrolysis, aiming to maximize conversion into gaseous products, particularly hydrogen-rich gas. A monomode microwave reactor was employed, using layered configurations of plastic feedstock, silicon carbide as a microwave susceptor, and activated carbon as a catalyst. The influence of catalyst loading, reactor configuration, and plastic type was assessed through systematic experiments. Results showed that technical-grade PP, under optimal conditions, yielded up to 81.4 wt.% gas with a hydrogen concentration of 45.2 vol.% and a hydrogen efficiency of 44.8 g/g. In contrast, PE and mixed PP + PE waste displayed lower hydrogen performance, particularly when containing inorganic fillers. For all types of plastics studied, the gaseous fractions obtained have a high calorific value (46,941–55,087 kJ/kg) and at the same time low specific CO₂ emissions (4.4–6.1 × 10⁻⁵ kg CO₂/kJ), which makes these fuels very efficient and have a low carbon footprint. Comparative tests using conventional heating revealed significantly lower hydrogen yields (4.77 vs. 19.7 mmol/g plastic). These findings highlight the potential of microwave-assisted pyrolysis as an efficient method for transforming ELV-derived plastic waste into energy carriers, offering a pathway toward low-carbon, resource-efficient waste management. Full article

This study evaluates the environmental impacts of end-of-life vehicle (ELV) management in Romania using a life-cycle assessment (LCA). It focuses on the current scenario of ELV waste generation and models current ELV practices like reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and final disposal with the goal of understanding the environmental impacts and benefits of the ELV recycling system and the trade-offs needed to improve its environmental performance. The investigation is based on a statistical analysis of retired cars in 2020 and Eurostat data on ELV waste composition. The results indicate that current practices meet the 85% recovery target, with recycling being the dominant method. The environmental analysis shows that recycling provides the greatest net environmental benefits, while landfilling has negative impacts, especially in climate change and marine eco-toxicity categories. An optimized scenario, which minimizes landfilling and increases recycling, leads to significant improvements in air- and resource-related categories and shows that improving the ELV waste management practices for better dismantling, separation, and recycling is crucial for enhancing the ELV management performance. Full article

Considering the increasing use of plastics in vehicles, the need for sustainable management is becoming a matter of concern. The reintroduction of plastic originated from post-consumer waste in the vehicle manufacturing loop can also be a solution to meet the recent EU ELVs (end-of-life vehicles) legislation in terms of sustainability. This study focuses on post-consumer polypropylene (PP) compounds destined for automotive applications by assessing their morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques were used. Since the ageing of these materials, caused by the thermo-oxidative degradation process, may compromise their performances, a comprehensive study of their behavior, in comparison to the virgin compound counterpart, was necessary to evaluate the fossil replacement possibility. Furthermore, an additional investigation was conducted after subjecting the materials to UV ageing in order to simulate the degradation effect of solar radiation, with the aim of determining the suitability of the recycled materials in long-term applications. In summary, the results support the feasibility of using recycled post-consumer materials mixed with virgin grade in automotive production, highlighting the stability of thermal and mechanical properties, critical for efficient manufacturing. This research underlines the noteworthy progress in the circularity of automotive plastics, providing a sustainable solution for integrating plastic material waste into new vehicle production. Full article

Increasing recycled plastic content in cars to 25% by 2030 is one of the key measures for decarbonizing the automotive industry defined by the European Commission. This should include the recovery of plastics from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), but such materials are hardly used in compounds today. To close the knowledge gap, two ELV recyclate grades largely based on bumper recycling were analyzed in comparison to a packaging-based post-consumer recyclate (PCR). The composition data were used to design polypropylene (PP) compounds for automotive applications with virgin base material and mineral reinforcement, which were characterized in relation to a commercial virgin-based compound. A compound with a 40 wt.-% ELV-based bumper recyclate can exceed one with just a 25 wt.-% packaging-based recyclate in terms of stiffness/impact balance. While the virgin reference can nearly be matched regarding mechanics, the flowability is not reached by any of the PCR compounds, making further development work necessary. Full article

End-of-life vehicle (ELV) forecasting constitutes a crucial aspect of sustainable waste management and resource allocation strategies. While the existing literature predominantly employs time-series forecasting and machine learning methodologies, a dearth of studies leveraging deep learning techniques, particularly Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, is evident. Moreover, the focus on localized contexts within national or municipal boundaries overlooks the imperative of addressing ELV generation dynamics at an international scale, particularly within entities such as the EU-27. Furthermore, the absence of methodologies to reconcile missing historical data presents a significant limitation in forecasting accuracy. In response to these critical gaps, this study proposes a pioneering framework that integrates grey systems theory (GST)-based backcasting with LSTM-based deep learning methodologies for forecasting ELV generation within the EU until 2040. By introducing this innovative approach, this study not only extends the methodological repertoire within the field but also enhances the applicability of findings to supranational regulatory frameworks. Moreover, the incorporation of backcasting techniques addresses data limitations, ensuring more robust and accurate forecasting outcomes. The results indicate an anticipated decline in the recovery and recycling of ELVs, underscoring the urgent need for intervention by policymakers and stakeholders in the waste management sector. Through these contributions, this study enriches our understanding of ELV generation dynamics and facilitates informed decision-making processes in environmental sustainability and resource management domains. Full article

The strategic development of reverse logistics networks is crucial for addressing the common challenge of low recovery rates for end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in China. To minimize the total cost of the reverse logistics network for ELVs, this paper proposes a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model. The model considers the recycling volume of different vehicle types, facility processing capacity, and the proportions of parts and materials. Building on this foundation, a fuzzy mixed-integer nonlinear programming (FMINLP) model is developed to account for the inherent uncertainty associated with recycling volumes and facility processing capacities. The model was solved using Lingo, and its effectiveness was validated using Jiangsu Province of China as a case study, followed by a sensitivity analysis. The results indicate that dismantling and machining centers incur the highest processing costs. Variations in recycling volume and facility handling capacity significantly impact total costs and site selection, with the former having a more pronounced effect. Increasing facility processing capacity effectively increases the recovery rate. Moreover, a higher confidence level corresponds to higher total costs and a greater demand for facilities. Full article

The use of plastics in automobiles is increasing dramatically due to their advantages of low weight and cost-effectiveness. Various products can be manufactured by recycling end-of-life vehicle (ELV) plastic waste, enhancing sustainability within this sector. This study presents the development of an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield that can be used for protecting electronic devices in vehicles by recycling waste bumpers of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber from ELVs. EPDM waste was added to a unique combination of $40/60$: PP/CaCO${}_3$ master batch and conductive nanofiller of carbon nanotubes using an internal melt mixing process. This nanocomposite was highly conductive, with an electrical conductivity of $5.2\times {10}^{-1}\mathrm{S}·{\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}$ for 5 vol% CNT in a 30 wt% EPDM/70 wt% PP/CaCO${}_3$ master batch and showed a high EMI shielding effectiveness of 30.4 dB. An ultra-low percolation threshold was achieved for the nanocomposite at 0.25 vol% CNT. Waste material in the composite improved the yield strain by about 46% and strain at break by 54% in comparison with the same composition without waste. Low cost and light-weight fabricated composite from ELV waste shows high EMI SE for application in electronic vehicles and opens a new path to convert waste to wealth. Full article

In the existing recycling system for end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), online recycling based on the Internet platform is a useful supplement. In this paper, a Stackelberg game pricing model, which is dominated by ELV part remanufacturers and composed of remanufacturers, recyclers, and consumers, is constructed considering consumer preferences for recycling channels. The influence of different subsidy strategies on the optimal pricing, profit, and recycling volume of the reverse supply chain (RSC) of ELVs is discussed, and the effects of factors such as subsidy amount and consumer preferences on the RSC of ELVs are analyzed using numerical simulation. The results show that the increase in consumers’ online recycling preferences has a positive effect on the recycling volume and profit of the RSC of ELVs. Considering the recycling volume of the RSC, when fewer subsidies are given, more recycling volume can be generated by subsidizing remanufacturers, and, on the contrary, recycling volume will be generated by subsidizing consumers. Considering the profit of the RSC, when subsidies are given at the lower-middle level, higher profits can be earned by subsidizing remanufacturers, and, on the contrary, higher profits can be earned by subsidizing consumers. Full article

Recovering copper foil and crushed aluminum from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) is a significant issue in the recycling industry. As a key technology for sorting aluminum, copper, and other non-ferrous metals, eddy current separation (ECS) is efficient in isolating the non-ferrous metals according to their different electrical conductivity and density. However, further research is still needed in the separation of large-size copper foil and crushed aluminum from scrapped vehicles. In this study, support vector regression (SVR) and the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) are exploited for the first time to be used in optimizing the Halbach magnetic roller. Firstly, the numerical simulation results are based on the response surface methodology (RSM). Then, the accuracy of four kernel functions employing SVR is compared to select a kernel function. The sparrow search algorithm (SSA) is proposed to optimize the structural parameters of the Halbach magnetic roller, concentrating on the above-selected kernel function. Meanwhile, the parameters are confirmed. Numerical simulation results indicate that machine learning for magnetic roller optimization is feasible. Full article

The growing global demand for new cars has resulted in a rise in end-of-life vehicles (ELV), both with usable and non-usable parts. Malaysia faces a particularly pressing issue of abandoned vehicles (AVs), as the country currently lacks comprehensive legislation for managing ELV. On the other hand, countries such as the US, Japan, Belgium, Korea, and China have well-established ELV management policies. In light of this, a pilot study assessed the public’s perception and attitudes towards ELV issues and regulations in Malaysia. The study gathered participants’ views on surrender, deregistration, disposal costs, incentives, recycling, and ELV regulations. The questionnaire used in the study was based on the findings from a previous report. The data were analysed using SPSS version 27, based on 40 interviews with diverse participants. The results of the study revealed three primary themes: “AV and its ELV”, “ELV disposal procedures”, and “ELV regulation and conflict resolution”, with 14 sub-themes. The study adopts a regulatory approach towards ELV and AVs and highlights the importance of an effective voluntary surrender system in Malaysia as a step towards comprehensive ELV regulation. The findings of this pilot study provide valuable insights into the Malaysian public’s views on ELV and can inform the development of more effective and comprehensive ELV legislation. Full article

The automotive industry is one of the largest consumers of natural resources, and End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) form bulky wastes when they reach the end of their useful life, hence environmental concerns. Efficiency in recycling ELVs is therefore becoming a major concern to address the number of ELVs collected and recycled to minimize environmental impacts. This paper seeks to describe several activities of a closed-loop reverse logistics supply chain for the collection and recycling of ELVs and to identify the related potential risks involved. This study further investigated the potential risks for managing the efficient recycling of ELVs by modeling and viewing the end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling system as a reverse logistics supply chain. ELV recycling steps and processes, including collection and transportation, as well as the laws and technologies, were analyzed for risk factor identification and analysis. The major aim of this research is to perform a unified hierarchical risk analysis to estimate the degree of risk preference to efficiently manage the ELV supply chain. This study also proposes a risk assessment procedure using fuzzy knowledge representation theory to support ELV risk analysis. As a result, the identified key risks were ranked in terms of their preference for occurrence in a reverse supply chain of ELV products and mapped into five risk zones, Very Low, Low, Medium-Low, Moderate, Serious, and Critical, for ease of visualization. Hence, with a step-by-step implementation of the presented solution, ELV recycling organizations will see benefits in terms of an improvement in their activities and thus reduced costs that may occur due to uncertainties in their overall ELV business. Full article

Over the last couple of decades, the automobile sector in India has seen dramatic growth, following the phenomenal booming of engenders rapid proliferation of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). Therefore, efficient and sustainable handling of ELVs is paramount. India has been striving to establish a practical regulatory framework to handle ELVs sustainably. This study explores India’s current ELV recycling system to promote sustainable development. Subsequently, this article evaluates the present ELV recycling system to determine the existing issues in ELV recycling to prevent failure and enhance and standardize the processes involved in ELV recycling to achieve the optimum standard for product and process quality. This paper proposes pragmatic frameworks and offers recommendations for setting up an efficient ELV recycling system to resolve current issues and expedite sustainable development. This study has been performed through a mixed-method approach; a literature and policy review accompanied by detailed structured interviews with major stakeholders and industrial visits. This investigation reveals that India’s ELV recycling system is at the embryonic stage and struggling against numerous inherent impediments. However, the proposed frameworks, together with practical recommendations, provide a paradigm for expediting materials recycling from ELVs and resolving perennial issues. This research may assist the government of India in implementing any upcoming regulatory and legal framework. Full article

End-of-life vehicle (ELV) management is becoming increasingly important as the automotive industry is one of the world’s most critical sectors and is rapidly expanding. ELV management is essential for environmental protection and wellbeing under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, provides more jobs under SDG 8, and promotes a circular economy under SDG 11. All these factors contribute to the importance of ELV management as a research topic. Today, ELV management is well-positioned and an emerging research area particularly on ELV recycling systems in Europe, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China. This paper aims to provide a review of ELV management in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, which are the major automotive production bases in Southeast Asia, but which lack formal ELV recycling policies. Towards this end, the researchers have adopted a qualitative study in which document research has been used to analyze existing scientific studies and other published sources. The findings reveal that immature ELV management systems in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are the reason that no specific ELV laws and regulations exist, as well as why there are no precise ELV statistics. Nevertheless, there have been growing concerns about ELV management, as evidenced by environmental regulations and programs aimed at better management of ELV recycling in these countries. These findings will assist the respective authorities in formulating specific laws and regulations that will ensure sustainable management of ELV and will also ensure a better life and economy for society and for industry. Full article

The automotive industry is frequently associated with high polluting manufacturing systems, which raise concern owing to the current environmental frame. For this reason, new alternative manufacturing technologies with lower environmental impact have been proposed and tested, such as additive manufacturing (AM). Since AM technologies produce almost no waste, they can represent a huge opportunity for the automotive industry to become greener. In this sense, the object of the present review is to explore the challenges and strategies of 3D printing, recycling, and circular economy in the automotive industry. Therefore, to achieve the aim of the study, a systematic review methodology was used in five stages: (1) defining the targets; (2) extraction of papers from Scopus; (3) text mining and corpora text analysis of relevant documents from the platform; (4) identification of the dominant categories of the research topics; and (5) discussion and control of obtained results and provision of recommendations for future studies. The analysis of 14 relevant articles revealed that 3D printing technology represents an opportunity to empower small-scale producers of polymers, recycle ELV materials, and decentralize the supply chains of plastic articles. The possibility to include plastic parts produced by AM technology has been pointed out as an innovative option for car manufacturers. Unfortunately, till the present day, poor information was found in this regard. Findings highlighted the need for strategies to turn polymeric automotive components into more eco-friendly and safer materials, improve the supply chain of polymers, perform sustainability assessments, and reformulate waste policies for ELVs. Full article