Resource and toxic characterization in end-of-life vehicles through dismantling survey

The purpose of this study is to obtain useful information for end-of-life (ELV) management through a dismantling survey. Six vehicles, comprising conventional and next-generation (hybrid electric vehicles HEV; electric vehicles EV) ELVs, were dismantled. The dismantling survey allowed identification of material composition and of parts distribution; For instance, the printed wiring board content ranged from 0.74 to 4.1 kg for conventional vehicles, 3.8 kg for HEV, and 7.9 kg for EV. Resource and/or toxic contents were also estimated per ELV at an elemental level, using chemical analysis and data from previous studies. Rare earth element (REE) contents were 3100 g for HEV and 710 g for EV, compared with 22–64 g for conventional vehicles. Precious metal contents (sum of Rh, Pd, Pt, Ag, and Au) were 3.1–9.6 g. Brominated flame retardants were also detected from 13 interior materials. Related to the element contents per ELV, next-generation vehicles tended to contain a wider variety of elements in higher amounts than did conventional vehicles. In some elements including REEs significant variations in the contents per ELV were noted among the studies on ELVs reported so far; these uncertainties should be considered in life cycle assessments for ELV recycling schemes.