Qualitative Study on the Use of Life Cycle Assessments in Electric Drive Production

Quickly increasing production volumes for electric traction drives amplify the environmental impacts associated with their product lifecycles. Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are a critical tool in documenting impacts generated by any given production system, providing a necessary information foundation for sustainable product development processes. This study explores the application and integration of LCAs, specifically within the development process of electric drives for automotive applications, aiming to document its current acceptance and scope in this rapidly growing field. Due to the multi-faceted nature of the subject matter, a structured expert interview series is chosen to provide qualitative insights. Participants of the study include representatives from material and component manufacturers as well as electric drive manufacturers, both Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers. By including representatives from the entire value chain, differences and commonalities in a wide range of varying approaches and perspectives can be identified. As a result, the key challenges in implementation of life cycle assessments in the product development process of electric traction drives can be highlighted. This can serve as a baseline for the development of methods for an efficient sustainability assessment, especially in early stages of product development.