132874 20260217205511.0 doi 10.3390/su16062311 sideral 137703 ART-2024-137703 eng Ortego, Abel (orcid)0000-0002-6148-1253 Disassemblability Assessment of Car Parts: Lessons Learned from an Ecodesign Perspective 2024 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted A conventional vehicle requires more than 50 different metals in its manufacturing, most of which are critical. Given this circumstance, enhancing sustainability from a raw materials perspective requires improvements in the disassemblability of car parts. This enhancement aims to yield metal-rich fractions, enabling the application of effective recycling processes for the recovery of critical metals. This helps avoid the downcycling that occurs in conventional shredding processes. The present study was undertaken to analyze the challenges associated with disassembling components of significant value due to their metal content. The methodology comprises two distinct main stages: an identification of critical car parts and an assessment of disassemblability. The selection of car parts was determined by the criticality of each one through the thermodynamic rarity indicator. Disassemblability was studied experimentally, encompassing three different levels. This classification defines the stages from extracting parts from the vehicle and obtaining recycling fractions in their purest form: ferrous metals, aluminum, non-ferrous metals excluding aluminum, and plastics. This methodology was implemented on two vehicles manufactured by SEAT: SEAT Leon models II and III. As a result, not only was disassemblability information about these car parts collected, but several ecodesign recommendations were also identified as valuable guidance for future designs, specifically aimed at enhancing metals’ recyclability. In conclusion, it must be acknowledged that contemporary vehicle design often prioritizes cost-effective manufacturing processes. However, this approach may compromise the disassemblability and recyclability of the product. The ongoing transition to electric vehicles necessitates a re-evaluation of design principles, particularly from the perspective of the circular economy. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101003587/EU/leading the TRansion of the European Automotive SUpply chain towards a circulaR futurE/TREASURE This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No H2020 101003587-TREASURE info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/PID2020-116851RB-I00 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es 3.3 2024 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES 178 / 376 = 0.473 2024 Q2 T2 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 80 / 193 = 0.415 2024 Q2 T2 GREEN & SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 67 / 103 = 0.65 2024 Q3 T2 GREEN & SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 67 / 103 = 0.65 2024 Q3 T2 0.688 2024 Geography, Planning and Development 2024 Q1 Energy Engineering and Power Technology 2024 Q2 Environmental Science (miscellaneous) 2024 Q2 Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment 2024 Q2 Hardware and Architecture 2024 Q2 Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law 2024 Q2 Computer Networks and Communications 2024 Q2 7.7 2024 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Iglesias-Émbil, Marta Valero, Alicia Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-3330-1793 Gimeno-Fabra, Miquel Monné, Carlos Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-0330-183X Moreno, Francisco Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-6508-6998 5004 590 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica Área Máquinas y Motores Térmi. 16, 6 (2024), 2311 [17 pp.] Sustainability (Basel) Sustainability (Switzerland) 2071-1050 1033788 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/132874/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2542019 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/132874/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:132874 articulos driver 2026-02-17-20:25:07 ARTICLE