Imagine if the electronics in your car were printed directly onto the dashboard or seats like ink on paper, instead of using heavy wires and plastic boxes. This project makes those electronics easy to peel off or dissolve when the car is scrapped, so the valuable materials can be reused. It's like moving from a glued-together toy to a Lego set that can be taken apart and rebuilt.
Automotive electronics are traditionally difficult to recycle and contribute to vehicle weight and waste. Current manufacturing lacks a standardized way to integrate electronics that can be easily recovered at the end of the vehicle's life.
Eight validated prototypes and component capabilities across four use cases: battery casings, dashboards, seat/door systems, and tire-related systems.
If you are a vehicle OEM dealing with heavy wiring harnesses and difficult recycling processes — this project developed integrated electronics for battery casings and dashboards that reduce weight and allow for easier disassembly.
If you are a printed electronics provider dealing with low adoption in harsh automotive environments — this project developed validated prototypes for tire-related systems and door systems that prove these technologies work under industrial conditions.
If you are an automotive recycler dealing with contaminated plastic waste and embedded electronics — this project developed reversible bonding and modular design guidelines that make recovering valuable materials faster and cheaper.
Based on available project data, specific pricing or cost-reduction percentages are not provided, though the project focuses on resource-efficient and additive manufacturing to lower impact.
The project validated two generations of demonstrators (GEN1 and GEN2) under relevant industrial conditions, indicating a path toward scaling, though mass-production volumes are not specified.
Based on available project data, there is no specific mention of licensing terms or patent portfolios, but the project provides eco-design guidelines for developers.
The project aligns with the European Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy to reduce transport greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050.
The project developed four specific use cases (battery casing, dashboard, seat/door, and tires) using in-molded and textile-integrated electronics to show seamless integration.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with a 69% industry ratio, comprising 9 companies and 4 research entities. This strong commercial presence, including 3 SMEs, suggests the results are geared toward immediate industrial application rather than theoretical research, with a focus on practical validation in 7 different European countries.
Contact VDI/VDE INNOVATION + TECHNIK GMBH for technical specifications on GEN2 prototypes.
Request the eco-design guidelines for circular automotive electronics.
