15%
The question is not whether the good old internal combustion engine will have its day, but rather when. Now that fossil fuels will be phased out, with a view to achieving climate targets, the car recycling sector is ready to respond to the processing of electric and hydrogen cars.
A record number of electric cars were sold in 2018. Figures from the RAI Association, BOVAG and RDC show that no fewer than 24,024 new electric (powered by hydrogen and batteries) private cars were registered that year. That is a 200 per cent rise compared to 2017 (7,964). BOVAG and The Rai Association forecast a total of 28,000 new registrations in 2019. According to a conservative scenario by BOVAG even 15% of the newly sold private cars is a ‘full EV’.
It should be clear that there is a boom in electric cars in particular. 5.4 per cent of all new cars on Dutch roads are now fully electric. Add to this the existing electric cars and the figure is 48,767 at the end of 2018. This more than twice the number in 2017. Less spectacular in terms of numbers, but still certainly very promising, is the growing popularity of cars powered by hydrogen.
Sustainable Development Goals
For the second year, ARN has submitted itself to the yardstick of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the motto ‘lean and green’ in mind. The colored SDGs shown opposite apply specifically to the content of this page.
Be prepared
The message for the car recycling sector is clear. Over the coming years, the stock of electric and hydrogen cars will reach the end of their working lives, which will lead to a peak in processing, so be prepared!
Numerous initiatives are already preparing for the moment when electric vehicles become mainstream. For instance, students at The University of Twente/Ecomotive have built Noah, a study for an electric car with a chassis and body made from flax and bio-composite. The car is powered by six lithium-ion batteries, weighs 350 kg and has a range of 240 kilometres. Another innovative and stylish innovation is the electrically-powered classic Porsches by Voitures extravert, which are attracting attention from around the world.
Have you heard about the Lightyear One, the family car powered by solar energy? The prototype is ready and it will hit the roads in 2019. Forecast sales: 1,000 per year. Furthermore, InMotion is building a futuristic racing car with special features. It has a top speed of no less than 285 km/h and can be charged very rapidly.
Recycling sector is ready to respond
The recycling industry already has limited experience with the cars of tomorrow. However, it doesn’t just involve the professional and safe dismantling of electric vehicle batteries. The newest cars have new electronics and sometimes a different material composition. The number of moving parts has also been significantly reduced.
High-quality recycling
ARN wants to recycle these new cars with its chain partners in the same way as it does the current stock. The challenge here is ‘catching up’ with the logistical backlog that the industry has on the manufacturers. Since the reused materials produced by the industry have an average useful life of eighteen years, the materials produced by the industry are also logically eighteen years old. The whole point is deploying these old materials in the best way possible in the modern car industry.
The changes in the power trains also mean changes in the composition of the materials. ARN is developing research and knowledge with the chain so it can also maximise the recycling of the cars of tomorrow.
The hype that become a fashion – electric cars in 2019
Last year, a record number of electric cars were sold. This trend is expected to continue in 2019.
Popular mid-segment cars such as the BMW i3, Hyundai Ioniq, Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf are increasing in popularity and have been joined by newcomers such as the Hyundai Kona and the Kia e-Niro. Models from the higher segment, such as the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla’s Model S and X are also being joined by new models to be launched by other manufacturers in 2019. A new rule has been in force since 1 January 2019 that means that a 4% addition will be paid on the first 50,000 euros for cars for private use. A 22% addition will be paid on higher amounts. This means that more expensive electric cars will become less popular.