Closing the Loop on Circular Economy in Transportation Electrification: Reuse, Repurposing, and Recycling of Batteries, Power Electronics, and Electric Machines

The electrification of transportation is a pivotal step toward sustainable and environmentally conscious mobility. However, as the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and associated technologies continues to grow, the need for effective strategies to manage end-of-life components becomes increasingly crucial from both sustainability and economic standpoints. Obtaining essential rare-Earth (RE) materials such as cobalt, lithium, neodymium, and terbium has become progressively more difficult and costlier. Furthermore, the extraction and processing of these materials produce significant carbon emissions and release harmful toxins. The economic value of the materials and components in EVs is generally 20%–30% higher than that of conventional internal combustion engine based vehicles due to the increased use of lightweight and RE materials in batteries and electric motors. This article aims to address the imperative of closing the loop on the circular economy within the realm of transportation electrification, with a specific focus on electric drives (i.e., power electronics and electric machines) as well as batteries with reuse, repurposing, and recycling technologies.