A circular supply chain framework for end-of-life EV batteries: Scenario-based evaluation based on R-strategies

This thesis investigates the economic and circular performance of end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries through a State of Health (SoH)–driven material flow analysis (MFA) framework. The study evaluates how different circular economy scenarios—ranging from recycling-dominated systems to policy-driven and technology-led circular strategies—affect cost efficiency, value retention, and system-level net benefits. By integrating battery chemistry, SoH thresholds, and R-strategy allocation, the model quantifies the economic implications of reuse, remanufacturing, repurposing, and recycling pathways. The results demonstrate that higher economic and circular performance is achieved when product-level strategies are prioritized over material recovery alone, and confirm SoH as the key decision variable linking technical feasibility with economic outcomes in future circular battery systems.