With accurate data, we can influence and improve our products’ sustainability profiles in the early design phase. It also helps us proactively evaluate alternatives in the design and supply processes to minimize and eliminate scarce materials and substances of concern.
Recycling is paramount. We continuously seek to increase the recycling at the end of the vehicle’s service life, as well as the use of recycled material in manufacturing. If we look at the recyclability and recoverability index for a Volvo 7900 Electric bus these figures are 87.7% and 98.2%, respectively, according to the ISO22628 standard. In fact, a higher figure than that required in the car industry, currently at 85 and 95%.
Again, one of the most crucial issues in the shift towards electromobility besides electricity production is the production, usage and recycling of batteries. The EU Commission recently presented a proposal of an EU Battery Directive on how to report the environmental impact of batteries and recycling was an essential part of the scope.
This is already high on our agenda. Within the Volvo Group, a lot of research and development work is on-going in this area. This includes investigating the possibility to remanufacture batteries. And we are already co-operating with recycling companies and other actors, installing used bus batteries as energy storage in various applications.