Towards a circular supply chain for retired electric vehicle batteries: A systematic literature review

Abstract

While the significance of circular supply chains in boosting the sustainability of retired electric vehicle batteries through ongoing material secondary use and recycling is clear, there is a distinct absence of thorough studies that explore retired electric vehicle batteries from a circular supply chain standpoint. This gap is particularly evident in the lack of research detailing existing patterns, pinpointing research gaps, and offering directives for future inquiries. This study undertakes a systematic literature review, analysing 249 academic articles from Scopus and Web of Science up to September 2024. Three keyword clusters, which are supply chain management for battery recycling, environmental assessment, and economic analysis are identified by keyword co-occurrence networks. The structural dimension analysis further reveals that the existing literature predominantly focuses on recycling and remanufacturing within closed-loop supply chains, highlighting an incomplete current sustainability assessment. A circular supply chain framework and archetype for retired electric vehicle batteries, along with a future research agenda, have been proposed to guide research in four streams: i) open-loop supply chains, ii) novel business models, iii) empirical research for circular economy strategies, and iv) the sustainability assessment frameworks. This study enriches researchers and practitioners’ understanding of the current development of retired electric vehicle batteries circular supply chains, underlining the potential value of retired electric vehicle batteries, fostering effective collaboration among supply chain actors, and uncovering new business opportunities.