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Enabling Circular Copper Flows in Electric Motor Lifecycle
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Product and Production Development.
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Machine Elements.ORCID iD: 0009-0002-7002-7260
ABB, 72171 Västerås, Sweden.
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Machine Elements.
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2026 (English)In: Clean Technologies, E-ISSN 2571-8797, Vol. 8, no 1, article id 16Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Copper is a strategic raw material and an important component in electric motors, widely used across industries because of its excellent conductivity and recyclability. It plays an important role in the transformation from fossil fuel-based systems to green, electrified systems. However, substantial material losses continue throughout the lifecycle of electric motors, even with copper’s intrinsic capacity for circularity. Also, copper’s increasing demand, which is driven by the emergence of electric vehicles, industrial electrification, and renewable energy infrastructure, poses questions regarding its sustainable supply. The recovery of secondary copper sources from end-of-life (EoL) products is becoming more and more important in this context. However, it is still difficult to achieve circularity of copper, especially from industrial electric motors. This study investigates the challenges of closing the loop for copper during the lifecycle of motors in industrial applications. Based on an examination of EoL strategies, material flow insights, and practical investigation, the research pinpoints significant inefficiencies in the current processes. The widespread use of scraping as an approach of end-of-life management is one significant issue. Most of the electric motors are not built to separate their components, which makes both mechanical and manual disassembly difficult. The quality of recovered copper is thus compromised by the dominance of mixed metal shredding methods in the recycling step. This study highlights the need for systemic changes in addition to technical solutions to address copper circularity issues. It requires a focus on circularity in designing, giving disassembly and metal recovery a priority. This study focuses on circularity and its technological challenges in a value chain of copper. It not only identifies different processes such as supply chain disconnections and design constraints, but it also suggests workable solutions to close the copper flow loop in the electric motor sector. Copper quality and recovery is ultimately a problem involving design, technology, and cooperation, in addition to resources. This study supports the transition to a more sustainable and circular electric motor industry by offering a basis for directing such changes in industry practices and prospective EU regulations.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) , 2026. Vol. 8, no 1, article id 16
Keywords [en]
copper, electric motor, circular economy and barriers
National Category
Environmental Management Condensed Matter Physics
Research subject
Machine Design; Machine Elements
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-116692DOI: 10.3390/cleantechnol8010016ISI: 001699912400001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105031216777OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-116692DiVA, id: diva2:2047414
Funder
Swedish Energy Agency, P2024-00581
Note

Full text license: CC BY

Available from: 2026-03-20 Created: 2026-03-20 Last updated: 2026-06-30Bibliographically approved

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Sandgren, LindaGnanesh Senthilnathan, Sri RamCamp, Victoria VanKarlberg, MagnusNäsström, MatsLarsson, Roland

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