Currently, Old cars and cars involved in accidents are often disposed of through energy-wasting processes, even when many parts are still working.
In Germany, Fraunhofer researchers in the EKODA project aim to develop a better alternative to scrapping old cars (Efficient and Economic Cycle-Oriented Dismantling and Reconditioning). A team of researchers is developing and optimizing an evaluation system to optimize the reuse of electric vehicle components before recycling.
Software equipped with AI algorithms is one of the core technologies of the EKODA project. It is efficient, It aims to bring about a circular economy through the extraction and processing of economically viable components.
According to researchers at Fraunhofer IWU, All components are first checked in a complex testing procedure. The evaluation system then provides suggestions on how the components can be reused. By considering and analyzing each component; The declared goal should be to replace anything less than classical recycling of the entire system.
The concept will improve the service life of individual components and develop a sustainable circular economy in the field of mobility. batteries, Gear rods or gears can also end up in applications outside of automotive. The main tasks of the EKODA project are capacity; Includes decommissioning and analysis of parameters such as state of charge and functionality in the battery area.
The camera system is type; model We record the serial number and power class (kW) and serial number of the battery pack removed from the used or crashed car and compare them to an internal database. In the next step, The battery cover is removed semi-automatically. Further analyzes include the current state of charge from the measuring system; It continues to record the functionality of the control electronics and the status of individual battery cells.
Evaluation software developed by Fraunhofer IWU to create a detailed condition profile; It analyzes it and uses the data to make recommendations for further use. for example, A battery in good condition could be transferred to a used car, but the energy storage device could be used in a “miniature agricultural machine,” according to the institute. If multiple cells are defective. A battery can continue to use electricity as an electricity storage device for your home’s photovoltaic system.
The same principle of inspection and recycling can be applied to other car parts. “We want to move away from traditional recycling, instead looking at every part of a car as a valuable resource – regardless of the function it currently performs in the vehicle. So we are working on a strategy for testing whether these components can be reused or recycled in various situations.” chassis construction at Fraunhofer IWU; Dr. Uwe Frieß, Head of Installation and Installation, explains.
Researchers are working on processes to automatically disassemble each component. By properly implementing this strategy, All parts are expected to be recycled as part of the circular economy. The Chemnitz-based researchers are not only analyzing battery storage systems, but also focusing on components such as the car body and drive train. Some parts of the drive train, such as cranks or straw wheels made of metal or steel, are also suitable for remanufacturing.
“The evaluation system we are building is designed to be complex and comprehensive. Ecological criteria will give equal weight to technical and economic factors such as CO2 emissions and energy consumed during recycling.” Patrick Alexander Schmidt, researcher at Fraunhofer IWU, explains. “The assessment system will dynamically consider electricity price fluctuations based on relevant daily figures.” Mr. Schmidt promises.
