Timm Kirchhoff’s Post

🚗 Do you want to find out how design, reuse, recycling, and policy will come together to redefine the future of passenger cars?  Circle Economy Consulting's blog for #EverMinds explains the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as we move towards a circular mobility sector. ♻️ 🌍 #CircularEconomy #AcceleratingActionOnCircularity #CircularDesign  

Tires play a key role in improving sustainable fleet operations and elevating the circular economy. The tyre industry needs to emphasise the development of recyclable, fuel-efficient tyres to make truly sustainable and environmentally friendly cars. #tiredevelopment #circulareconomy #recycling

The Future of Automotive is not Just Electric, but Circular – and Ford is Leading the Charge with Car Parts Made from Coffee bean and now Olive Tree Waste. #hempfiber #industrialhemp #sustainable #automotiveindustry #future #environment #hempproducts #hempindustry #circulareconomy #ev #transport #innovation

Will we drive around 100% recycled cars in the future? 🚘️ So, what makes a car 'circular'? It transcends mere aspects of fuel efficiency or low emissions; it encapsulates the ethos of a circular economy throughout the vehicle's entire lifecycle. A genuinely circular car commences with ethical material sourcing, prioritizing recycled or renewable substances over new raw materials. At the manufacturing stage, the focus is on a modular architecture and waste reduction. This allows for straightforward disassembly, facilitating repair or recycling. In operation, a circular car relies on renewable energy—be it electricity generated from wind or solar sources, or sustainable e-fuels. Maintenance practices are designed to be regenerative, prolonging the car's operational life while minimizing the requirement for new components. Rather than being relegated to a junkyard at the end of its life, a circular car's components are repurposed, refurbished, or recycled. This completes the circular journey and minimizes its ecological footprint. Navigating the path to a truly circular car is a multifaceted endeavor, calling for technological innovation, alterations in consumer preferences, and critically, supportive regulatory landscapes. Will our future roads be populated by circular cars? That outcome is tied to our shared dedication to environmental sustainability. #CircularCar #SustainableTrading #CircularEconomy #RenewableSources #LifecycleOptimization #TechInnovation #RegulatorySupport

I'm particularly impressed by the recycling rate of lead-acid batteries. A 99% recycling rate is remarkable, especially when compared to the much lower rate for lithium batteries. This highlights an often overlooked aspect of sustainability. The fact that new batteries consist of 80% recycled material is a great example of circular economy principles in action. However, I can't help but feel that we're still in a transitional phase. While the improvements in lead-acid batteries are commendable, the future seems to be moving towards electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries. The challenge will be to improve the recycling rates and overall sustainability of these newer battery technologies to match or exceed what we've achieved with lead-acid batteries. #AutoSustainability #GreenAutomotive #BatteryRecycling

Check out this article from Aftermarket News, which lays out the latest insights on the emerging circular aftermarket. ATC Drivetrain's focus on circularity aligns with this transformative shift and drives us to lead the way in sustainable remanufacturing solutions. https://lnkd.in/eGA7_rTc #ATCdrivetrain #remanufacturing #increasedlifespan #remanufacturingbenefits #reman #likenew #remanufacturedtransmissions #sustainability #batterylifecycle #electrification #electricvehicles #aftermarket

🌱𝗔𝗥𝗡 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝟵𝟴.𝟳%; 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 🌱 In 2023, a record low of 159,262 cars were deregistered for dismantling in the Netherlands. People are keeping their cars longer, with the average scrapping age now at 19 years and 7 months. Despite this, ARN (Auto Recycling Nederland) achieved a 98.7% recycling rate for end-of-life vehicles, well above the European requirement of 95%. Significantly, the weight of car batteries collected for recycling more than doubled to 263,373 kg. Of these, 74% were recycled and 26% were repurposed for second-use applications. New European regulations will boost the reuse of materials, mandating recycled content in new cars and batteries. This will drive innovation in recycling technologies. ARN is committed to responsible and high-quality auto recycling. Check out the ARN Sustainability Report 2023 here: https://lnkd.in/eZcaKThf #AutoRecycling #Sustainability #ElectricVehicles #BatteryRecycling #ARN #Innovation #EnvironmentalImpact

The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is a pivotal step towards sustainable mobility. However, the EV industry recognizes that true sustainability requires more than just zero tailpipe emissions. It demands a fundamental shift towards a circular economic model that maximizes resource efficiency and minimizes waste. At the core of the circular economy lies the principle of recovering, reusing, refurbishing, and recycling materials and products. This closed-loop approach contrasts starkly with the traditional linear model of "make, use, and dispose," which has proven to be unsustainable and detrimental to the environment. The EV industry is well-positioned to play a vital role in enabling the circular economy through several key initiatives- 1. Battery Reuse and Recycling EV batteries, which constitute a significant portion of the vehicle's cost and environmental impact, offer immense potential for circularity. After their initial vehicle life, these batteries can be repurposed for stationary energy storage applications, extending their useful life and delaying the need for recycling. When the batteries eventually reach the end of their operational lifespan, they can be recycled to recover valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which can then be used to manufacture new batteries. 2. Vehicle Lifecycle Management Modern EVs are being designed with circularity in mind, emphasizing easy disassembly, repair, and remanufacturing. This approach not only extends the vehicle's lifecycle but also enables the reuse of components and materials, reducing the demand for new resources and minimizing waste. 3. Sustainable Material Sourcing Leading EV manufacturers are actively investing in responsibly sourced raw materials and incorporating recycled materials into their production processes. This dual approach ensures a sustainable supply chain while also creating a market for recycled materials, further driving the circular economy. The benefits of a circular EV industry extend far beyond environmental considerations. By reducing reliance on raw material extraction and cutting manufacturing emissions and energy use, the industry can achieve significant cost savings. Additionally, the creation of affordable second-life applications for EV batteries can increase their accessibility and accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility. Moreover, embracing circularity fosters innovation in product design, recycling technologies, and business models, positioning the EV industry as a frontrunner in the global shift towards a more sustainable future. As the demand for EVs continues to surge, the industry's commitment to the circular economy will be crucial in mitigating the environmental impact of transportation and ensuring a truly sustainable emobility revolution. #CircularEconomy #EVIndustry #SustainableTransport #BatteryRecycling #ResourceEfficiency

Flax fibre revolution: sustainable composites enter automotive production with the Volvo EX30 Legislation, competition and electrification are driving significant inno­vation in the transport sector. The automotive industry’s emphasis on zero-emission vehicles aligns with broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions, with a growing focus on sustainable materials beyond batteries and electric motors. “This is a transformative time for many industries, with com­panies assessing and evolving in line with government demands and consumer expectations, said Per Mårtensson. Responses can range from mitigating the envi­ronmental toll of raw materials and production to improved waste management, as well as developing new technologies that deliver efficiency gains. In the au­tomotive industry, this translates into an increased emphasis on circular, recycled and sustainable materials to support the goal of zero emission vehicles.” Weight reduction on the scope One of the current methods used to enhance vehicle effi­ciency is lightweighting, regard­less of the propulsion system. Consequently, manufacturers are actively seeking solutions to diminish the overall mass of ve­hicles while upholding environ­mental considerations. This en­deavour is particularly notable in the sector of EVs where battery weight impacts both efficiency and driving range. “The rapid rise of EVs has been a huge shift for the automotive industry, bringing forth new challenges. The weight reduction trend was already present, but now it has intensified as more OEMs recog­nise the significance of sustainable lightweighting, dematerialisation, as well as the need for viable and circular end-of-life options for the materials used. The viable, circular options Per Mårtensson refers to just happens to include ampliTex™, Bcomp’s flax fibre-based com­posite technology. It has been featured in a wide variety of ap­plications from tennis rackets and skis to motorsport wings, satellite panels, where its use and that of Bcomp power­Ribs™ have been a resounding success.Now, the company has achieved the long-term goal of integrating its technology into a production vehicle, the new Volvo EX30 small fully electric SUV. With the lowest carbon footprint of any model in Volvo Cars’ history (the lowest carbon footprint of any Volvo car to date statement relates to available products over 200,000 km of driving), the EX30 is launching with the op­tion for innovative natural fibre composites in its dashboard and door trim. Bcomp’s work with Volvo Cars to integrate the Bcomp ampli­Tex™ into a global production ve­hicle has been ambitious,reward­ing, and significant according to Per Mårtensson.Bcomp tech­nologies have already been used in some of the most extreme scenarios imaginable, but one of the company’s main goals was to efficiently scale and achieve meaningful impact within the transport sector. Source:bcomp/jeccomposites https://lnkd.in/givE9heE

We are proud to share that Volvo Cars has been recognized by TIME as one of the World's Most Sustainable Companies in 2024. This is a testament to our commitment to giving people freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way.    Our ambition is to reach net zero emissions by 2040. For example, our global manufacturing operations are powered by 74% climate-neutral energy, including 98% climate-neutral electricity. With circular economy strategies we work towards closing the loop on materials – in the EX30 nearly 25% of all aluminum and approximately 17% of all steel and plastic come from recycled sources. We’re also leading the charge towards zero tailpipe emission mobility with 41% of our global sales in Q1 2024 being fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.    At Volvo Cars, we aim to be pioneers in protecting people and the planet by working towards net zero, embracing the circular economy and working to improve people’s lives. We congratulate other fellow companies making the TIME and Statista list on doing best for the Earth 🌍   Read more here: World's Most Sustainable Companies 2024 | TIME #VolvoCars #ClimateAction #FutureIsNow