Generic Design Requirement for Enhanced Remanufacturability of Electric Vehicle Components

As the linear economic model reaches its limits, the circular economy gains increased attention for its sustainable attributes. Remanufacturing is a key value-retention process within the circular economy as it extends the lifespan of components and products. However, for companies interested in initiating remanufacturing, there is a challenge in determining suitable products for remanufacturing to gain both economic and environmental advantages. The automotive market is well-established on the remanufacturing market, but for electric vehicles (EVs), it is still in relative infancy. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate the remanufacturability of EV components to ease this challenge. This paper aims to establish a generic design requirement for improving the remanufacturability of EV components. To meet the aim, a case study and a literature review were conducted to identify factors affecting EV component remanufacturability. As a result, a generic design requirement was developed consisting of five design criteria: reuse of fasteners, no risk for damage, easy cleaning, easy reassembly , and accessibility of parts . While based on specific components, the design requirement aims for broader applicability within the EV industry. This paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge on value-retention processes by addressing a gap in remanufacturability assessment literature for EV components, offering actionable insights for both academics and practitioners to support the development of remanufacturing operations.