Life Methamorphosis

SEAT, in collaboration with the Energy Resources and Consumption Research Centre (CIRCE Foundation), is carrying out research to improve the recycling phase of vehicles' end-of-life.

From this work the EXCITE project is started, which aims to analyse the use of metals that are used in vehicles in the manufacturing phase, to define eco-design measures that reduce the demand for critical metals and increase their recycling potential.

The concept of thermodynamic rarity has been used in order to elaborate a methodology which allows to compare ant quantify the metals for their physical value. It means that, using the best available technology, it compares the amount of useful energy (exergy) necessary to obtain a metal suitable for industry.

In the first phase completed, 4 versions of internal combustion vehicles have been analysed and 34 components have been identified, on which eco-design recommendations have been defined focused on reducing the use of metals. Researchers were proposed reductions in the dismantling time of some components in order to facilitate accessibility to the critical metals they contain.

In the following phases of the project, it is intended to analyse the evolution of the demand for critical metals for other types of vehicles (electric, hybrid and autonomous); design the recycling processes necessary to recover valuable metals; and develop the ecodesign proposals defined to evaluate the feasibility of their application in future car models.