AutoRess: Resource efficient and circular electric cars

Sutter, J., Degreif, S., Göckeler, K., Klinge, J., Hurst, S., Kosińska-Terrade, I., Schön-Blume, N., Winter, E., Biemann, K., Dünnebeil, F., Ewers, B., Kämper, C., Limberger, S., Petri, F., Dittrich, M., Mehlhart, G., Emtsev, P., Hauser, C., Schreiber, B., & Palmetshofer, G. (2026). AutoRess: Resource efficient and circular electric cars. German Environment Agency. https://doi.org/10.60810/openumwelt-8349

Zusammenfassung englisch

With increasing market penetration of electric vehicles, the environmental impact during the vehicles’ life cycle is shifting toward manufacturing and end-of-life. In addition, electric mobility requires more critical raw materials, e.g., cobalt, graphite. The project investigated the potential for reducing resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across the life cycle of passenger cars. It identified three effective levers: Reduction of vehicle and battery size, extended service life, and increasing recycled content. The authors recommend, e.g., a bonus malus system based on vehicle size, lower taxation on resource-efficient company cars and guidelines for the public procurement of resource-efficient vehicles.