Is the car 100% recyclable?

ViaMichelin Le Mag

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When it comes to ecological issues, cars are at the centre of the debate. The environmental impact of this means of transport seems to run counter to the principle of EcoMobility, the idea of environmentally friendly travel, a vital issue for future modes of transportation. As the public and society's response to these issues has changed, so too have cars. They now have less polluting engines, and the recovery of recyclable materials has improved: can the electric car become 100% green?

What parts of a car can be recycled?

At least 95% of a car’s components must be reused or recycled when scrapping a vehicle in the UK. In the automotive sector, specialists work on damaged or scrapped vehicles to separate recyclable parts from potentially hazardous waste. Authorised dismantlers have the appropriate equipment for the disposal and separation of vehicle parts.

Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) are the only facilities legally permitted to dispose of scrapped cars in the UK, as they can deal with hazardous parts, like oil and batteries. Recycling centres with an ATF licence are then able to issue a Certificate of Destruction (CoD).

The recyclable parts of a car include all accessories or auto parts that are still functional, such as:

indicator lights,
the engine,
the bonnet,
the doors,
the radiator.

These components are the most likely to be stored and resold within the circular economy.

What happens to other components that are not reusable?

Raw materials can be extracted and reused in other forms. In a car, it is possible to recover different types of recyclable materials:

steel,
cast iron,
aluminium,
textiles,
etc.

Ferrous metals are considered valuable and recycled in foundries or ironworks. Foams, plastics and rubbers are among the materials that are harder to recover and used to go to landfills, but the items are now turned into gas to generate electricity. Plastic polymers are separated, reconstituted and reused as pure plastic pellets.

Liquids, tyres, oil and batteries are removed during the decontamination process and then recycled.

Note

Under the End of Life Vehicles Directive, cars or vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes must be disposed of responsibly in an environmentally way when scrapped.

The different engines and their environmental impact

While early car manufacturers certainly did not think about making the most environmentally friendly car models possible, this concern has become the heart of the EcoMobility debate. The ability to quickly travel while minimising carbon impact is now a key factor when purchasing a vehicle. Each type of engine also has unique characteristics to consider.

The diesel engine, durable but not suitable for short journeys

Diesel engines, still very present in the UK, has been in gradual decline for several years. One reason is that this engine type requires a complex decontamination process, notably when it comes to the particle filter. However, this type of engine is not well suited for short urban journeys because it takes about 30 minutes to reach its ideal operating temperature. On the other hand, diesel engines emit relatively trace amounts of CO2 and tend to be durable in the long term.

The petrol engine, trailing LPG and E85?

Easier to decontaminate and in constant evolution, the petrol engine consumes more fuel than diesel. However, current research aims to reduce the gap between these two engine types, and the petrol engine is still widely used by car manufacturers. Its fuel competitors, LPG and E85, show a more favourable ecological impact. But their rarity and less pleasant motorisation do not seem to work in their favour.

Two new, more ecological engines

Two other types of engines have joined the race towards EcoMobility: hydrogen and electric. The first drastically limits greenhouse gas emissions while driving, but the production process of hydrogen is in itself a highly polluting method. Electricity, which is becoming increasingly popular, is self-sufficient for short journeys in the city. With low carbon emissions and good road performance, electricity can be combined and used with another fuel type as a hybrid system.

The future of the car and EcoMobility

If people want to continue to move around freely while minimising their carbon footprint, they must promote the recycling of all parts and materials used in the construction of cars. The question of which engine and fuel choice also come into play. In 2021, several improvements would need to be made for electric vehicles to be considered 100% eco-friendly, notably through choosing green electricity production or recyclable materials for construction.

Alternatives could also emerge and revolutionise the notion of EcoMobility. Since the first steam-powered cars, history has proven car manufacturers do not lack inventiveness or imagination when it comes to overcoming even the most daunting challenges. Will the next challenge lead to the invention of the 100% recyclable car?

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