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Chirumalla, K., Dahlquist, E., Kulkov, I., Johansson, G., Stefan, I., Shabani, M., . . . Wallin, F. (2024). Circular Business Models for the Electric Vehicle Battery Second Life: Navigating Battery Ecosystem Actors Towards Circularity. Västerås: Mälardalens universitet
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Circular Business Models for the Electric Vehicle Battery Second Life: Navigating Battery Ecosystem Actors Towards Circularity
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2024 (English)Report (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The electrification of vehicles has become a critical means to achieve climate-neutral transportation. As more electric vehicles (EV) are adopted, an increasing number of lithiumion batteries will be utilized, inevitably experiencing capacity degradation over time. Retaining the value of these retired batteries through remanufacturing, reusing, and repurposing to create a second life holds significant environmental and economic benefits. However, many companies within the battery ecosystem struggle to capitalize on this opportunity due to a lack of business insight and suitable business models tailored to their operational contexts.

The ReCreate (Second Life Management of Electric Vehicle Batteries) research project was initiated to address these industrial needs through close collaboration with selected companies in the battery ecosystem. The project aims to define appropriate circular business models, methods, and processes to guide battery ecosystem actors in developing and implementing electric vehicle battery second life solutions, thereby advancing circularity around batteries and climate-neutral objectives. 

This handbook represents the culmination of three years of research within the ReCreate project. Its purpose is to present a simplified and practical overview of project outcomes across a series of key chapters. Comprising six chapters, the handbook will begin by discussing barriers and enablers, followed by circular business models and battery ecosystem management. It will then delve into design principles and performance monitoring guidelines, concluding with an integrated framework for second life and circular solutions for EV batteries. 

Each chapter briefly presents the main findings of the theme and concludes with discussion questions. The discussion questions include suggestions for relevant templates for workshops, and all templates are conveniently provided in the appendix for practical application. These templates serve as boundary objects, offering a starting point for internal and external cross-functional and cross-organizational dialogues within the electric vehicle battery ecosystem. They facilitate discussions and collaborations among various stakeholders, fostering alignment and synergy in developing circular business models for the second life of EV batteries.  

By facilitating reflection on current business strategies, needs, and pain points, the handbook aims to aid in the definition of future second life business strategies. We anticipate that this handbook will serve as a valuable resource for actors within the EV battery ecosystem, supporting their journey towards climate-neutral transportation. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Västerås: Mälardalens universitet, 2024
National Category
Business Administration Energy Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-66332 (URN)978-91-7485-642-2 (ISBN)
Funder
XPRES - Initiative for excellence in production researchKnowledge Foundation
Note

Design and layout by Andreea Strineholm

Available from: 2024-04-02 Created: 2024-04-02 Last updated: 2024-04-08Bibliographically approved
Åkesson, J., Sundström, A., Johansson, G., Chirumalla, K., Grahn, S. & Berglund, A. (2024). Design of product-service systems in SMEs: a review of current research and suggestions for future directions. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Design of product-service systems in SMEs: a review of current research and suggestions for future directions
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2024 (English)In: Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, ISSN 1741-038X, E-ISSN 1758-7786Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]

Purpose – Despite increasing focus among scholars and practitioners on the design of product-services systems (PSS), there exists no compilation of current knowledge on the role played by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in designing such systems. Thus, this paper sets out to identify and organise the existing research and suggest questions for future research.

Design/methodology/approach—A systematic literature review was performed to identify and provide in-depth details on key themes in the literature addressing the design of PSS in SMEs.

Findings – This paper identifies five themes in the literature on the design of PSS in SMEs: motives, challenges, SME characteristics, methods and digitalisation. The themes are interrelated, and SME characteristics seem to beat the core as they are related to all the other themes. Gaps in the current knowledge are identified, and questions for future research are suggested.

Originality/value – The suggestions for future research provide a starting point for expanding the research on PSS design and devising practical support for SMEs.

National Category
Engineering and Technology Other Engineering and Technologies
Research subject
Innovation and Design
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-66235 (URN)10.1108/JMTM-11-2021-0457 (DOI)001177257300001 ()2-s2.0-85186240754 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2024-03-12 Created: 2024-03-12 Last updated: 2024-03-20Bibliographically approved
Chirumalla, K., Dahlquist, E., Kulkov, I., Stefan, I. & Johansson, G. (2024). Designing and Implementing Second Life for Electric Vehicle Batteries: An Integrated Framework to Navigate Ecosystem Actors Towards Circularity. In: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 728: . Paper presented at 43rd IFIP WG 5.7 International Conference on Advances in Production Management Systems, APMS 2024, Chemnitz, 8 September 2024 through 12 September 2024 (pp. 290-305). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Designing and Implementing Second Life for Electric Vehicle Batteries: An Integrated Framework to Navigate Ecosystem Actors Towards Circularity
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2024 (English)In: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 728, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH , 2024, p. 290-305Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

The electrification of vehicles has become a critical means to achieve climate-neutral transportation. As more electric vehicles (EV) are adopted, an increasing number of lithium-ion batteries will be utilized, inevitably experiencing capacity degradation over time. Retaining the value of these retired batteries through remanufacturing, reusing, and repurposing to create a second life holds significant environmental and economic benefits. However, many companies within the battery ecosystem struggle to capitalize on this opportunity due to a lack of business insight and suitable business models tailored to their operational contexts. The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated framework for designing and implementing second life for the EV batteries that could guide and navigate ecosystem actors towards circularity. This study employed an explorative qualitative inquiry approach, utilizing interviews and workshop methods, involving 15 companies in the EV battery ecosystem. Data collection involved 24 semi-structured interviews and 22 workshops. The framework includes four building blocks, including 1) barriers and enablers, 2) circular business models archetypes and design principles, 3) ecosystem management, and 4) battery performance monitoring. Further, the paper explains criteria influencing the selection of design and implementation of strategies for battery second life. This research contributes to the theory of circular business models and ecosystem management in general, with specific relevance to battery second life and circularity. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024
Keywords
Battery Circularity, Battery Second Life, Circular Business Models, Circular Ecosystems, Performance Monitoring, Second-life Batteries, Ecosystems, Information management, Business models, Circular business model, Circular ecosystem, Electric vehicle batteries, Integrated frameworks, Performance-monitoring, Second Life, Second life batteries, Circular economy
National Category
Environmental Management
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-68575 (URN)10.1007/978-3-031-71622-5_20 (DOI)2-s2.0-85204622195 (Scopus ID)9783031716218 (ISBN)
Conference
43rd IFIP WG 5.7 International Conference on Advances in Production Management Systems, APMS 2024, Chemnitz, 8 September 2024 through 12 September 2024
Available from: 2024-10-02 Created: 2024-10-02 Last updated: 2024-10-02Bibliographically approved
Toorajipour, R., Chirumalla, K., Johansson, G., Dahlquist, E. & Wallin, F. (2024). Implementing circular business models for the second-life battery of electric vehicles: Challenges and enablers from an ecosystem perspective. Business Strategy and the Environment
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Implementing circular business models for the second-life battery of electric vehicles: Challenges and enablers from an ecosystem perspective
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2024 (English)In: Business Strategy and the Environment, ISSN 0964-4733, E-ISSN 1099-0836Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This study adopts an ecosystem perspective to provide a detailed understanding of key challenges and enablers for implementing circular business models for electric vehicle battery second life. Although academia and practitioners believe electric vehicle (EV) batteries’ second life is a potential solution, the commercial implementations are still far away. A crucial step toward such implementations is to identify the key challenges and enablers of circular business models. The criticality of this step is even more evident when approaching second life business models from an ecosystem perspective, where multiple stakeholders are involved in the creation, capture, and delivery of value. This research conducts an explorative study with 15 companies in the EV battery ecosystem and identifies nine categories of key challenges and seven categories of key enablers. Based on priority dimensions (short/long term) and the responsible entity (firm/ecosystem related), the study proposes a guiding framework to address challenges and enablers. The study contributes to the circular business model innovation and ecosystems literature related to the EV battery second life.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
WILEY, 2024
Keywords
battery circularity, battery second life, circular business model innovation, climate-neutrality, EV batteries, EV battery ecosystem, second-life business models, second-life EV batteries
National Category
Economics and Business
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-68325 (URN)10.1002/bse.3941 (DOI)001299370500001 ()
Available from: 2024-09-04 Created: 2024-09-04 Last updated: 2024-09-04Bibliographically approved
Dahlquist, E., Wallin, F., Chirumalla, K., Toorajipour, R. & Johansson, G. (2023). Balancing Power in Sweden Using Different Renewable Resources, Varying Prices, and Storages Like Batteries in a Resilient Energy System. Energies, 16(12), 4734-4734
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Balancing Power in Sweden Using Different Renewable Resources, Varying Prices, and Storages Like Batteries in a Resilient Energy System
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2023 (English)In: Energies, E-ISSN 1996-1073, Vol. 16, no 12, p. 4734-4734Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

In this paper, balancing electricity production using renewable energy such as wind power, PV cells, hydropower, and CHP (combined heat and power) with biomass is carried out in relation to electricity consumption in primarily one major region in Sweden, SE-3, which contains 75% of the country's population. The time perspective is hours and days. Statistics with respect to power production and consumption are analyzed and used as input for power-balance calculations. How long periods are with low or high production, as well as the energy for charge and discharge that is needed to maintain a generally constant power production, is analyzed. One conclusion is that if the difference in production were to be completely covered with battery capacity it would be expensive, but if a large part of the difference were met by a shifting load it would be possible to cover the rest with battery storage in an economical way. To enhance the economy with battery storage, second-life batteries are proposed to reduce the capital cost in particular. Batteries are compared to hydrogen as an energy carrier. The efficiency of a battery system is higher than that of hydrogen plus fuel cells, but in general much fewer precious materials are needed with an H-2/fuel-cell system than with batteries. The paper discusses how to make the energy system more robust and resilient.

Keywords
electric power, balancing, batteries, load shift, resilience
National Category
Energy Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-63867 (URN)10.3390/en16124734 (DOI)001017053600001 ()2-s2.0-85163894100 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2023-07-13 Created: 2023-07-13 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved
Åkesson, J., Sundström, A., Johansson, G. & Chirumalla, K. (2023). How the characteristics of small and medium-sized enterprises influence product-service systems design challenges. International Journal of Manufacturing Research (4), 434-453
Open this publication in new window or tab >>How the characteristics of small and medium-sized enterprises influence product-service systems design challenges
2023 (English)In: International Journal of Manufacturing Research, ISSN 1750-0591, no 4, p. 434-453Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Manufacturing companies can contribute to a resource-efficient society by designing product-service systems (PSS). Despite the increased importance of PSS for the manufacturing industry in their efforts to become sustainable, few studies focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study presented in this article aims to add knowledge on how the characteristics of SMEs influence the challenges SMEs experience when designing PSS. It employs a multiple case study design where data are based on interviews, workshops, and internal archive documents from three contract manufacturing SMEs. The analysis suggests that nine SME characteristics influence the challenges SMEs experience when designing PSS. It also shows that SMEs’ different characteristics influence one or more challenges, and that SMEs have a short-term horizon and a reactive business approach which influences the overall challenge of designing PSS. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Inderscience Publishers, 2023
Keywords
challenges, contract manufacturing, firm characteristics, manufacturing companies, product-service systems, PSS, servitisation, small and medium-sized enterprises, SME, sustainability, Challenge, Firm characteristic, Service system designs, Servitization, Small and medium-sized enterprise, Product design
National Category
Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-65245 (URN)10.1504/IJMR.2023.135646 (DOI)001128775300006 ()2-s2.0-85180547755 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2024-01-03 Created: 2024-01-03 Last updated: 2024-01-31Bibliographically approved
Orejuela, S., Motte, D. & Johansson, G. (2023). MANAGERS' UNDERSTANDING OF AGILE IN HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT. In: Proceedings of the Design Society, Vol. 3: . Paper presented at 24th International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED 2023, Bordeaux, 24 July 2023 through 28 July 2023 (pp. 2515-2524). Cambridge University Press
Open this publication in new window or tab >>MANAGERS' UNDERSTANDING OF AGILE IN HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT
2023 (English)In: Proceedings of the Design Society, Vol. 3, Cambridge University Press , 2023, p. 2515-2524Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

The agile methodology is gaining attention among practitioners and researchers in hardware development. As a new methodology, it is a source of misunderstandings and misinterpretations. This is problematic at the managers' levels as they may hinder its adoption or lead to its impractical implementation and use. This study, therefore, aims to explore the manager's level of understanding of the agile methodology. The study identifies the similarities and differences between the fundamental elements of the agile methodology and the elements mentioned by managers in hardware development. The fundamental elements of the agile methodology are identified based on the elements presented in the Scrum method; the elements mentioned by managers are identified based on ten semi-structured interviews with managers in hardware development. The study shows that the understanding of the agile methodology varies largely among managers. The obtained detailed insights in the managers' level of understanding of the agile methodology could be used to develop appropriate support to facilitate its adoption and implementation.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Cambridge University Press, 2023
Keywords
Agile hardware development, Case study, New product development, Organisation of product development, Scrum, Agile Methodologies, Case-studies, Hardware development, Organization of product development, Scra, Semi structured interviews, Product development
National Category
Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-64001 (URN)10.1017/pds.2023.252 (DOI)2-s2.0-85165478134 (Scopus ID)
Conference
24th International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED 2023, Bordeaux, 24 July 2023 through 28 July 2023
Available from: 2023-08-16 Created: 2023-08-16 Last updated: 2023-08-23Bibliographically approved
Alayón, C. L., Säfsten, K. & Johansson, G. (2022). Barriers and Enablers for the Adoption of Sustainable Manufacturing by Manufacturing SMEs. Sustainability, 14(4), Article ID 2364.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Barriers and Enablers for the Adoption of Sustainable Manufacturing by Manufacturing SMEs
2022 (English)In: Sustainability, E-ISSN 2071-1050, Vol. 14, no 4, article id 2364Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have inherent characteristics, which require specific solutions for improving the sustainability performance of their operations. The purpose of this paper is to increase the knowledge on barriers and enablers for the adoption of sustainable manufacturing by manufacturing SMEs and to provide insights into what enablers can be used to overcome existing barriers. Taking, as a starting point, a systematic literature review, this paper presents a categorization of barriers and enablers for the adoption of sustainable manufacturing by manufacturing SMEs. In total, seven categories for classifying the barriers and enablers for the adoption of sustainable manufacturing within SMEs were identified: organizational, managerial and attitudinal; informational; governmental; financial; training and skills development; market and business context; and technological. Additionally, this study elaborates on what barriers could be mitigated through the enablers. This study found specific enablers with the potential to mitigate a significantly higher number of barriers and referred to them as ‘critical enablers’. SMEs aiming to adopt sustainable manufacturing practices or improve their sustainability performance are encouraged to focus on the enablers in these categories. This paper synthesizes and facilitates interpretation of the existing body of evidence on barriers and enablers for adopting sustainable manufacturing in SMEs. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2022
Keywords
Barriers, Categorization, Enablers, SMEs, Sustainable manufacturing, Systematic literature review
National Category
Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-57536 (URN)10.3390/su14042364 (DOI)000771478900001 ()2-s2.0-85125036049 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2022-03-02 Created: 2022-03-02 Last updated: 2022-04-06Bibliographically approved
Orejuela, S., Johansson, G. & Motte, D. (2022). Establishing Factors to Consider While Adopting the Agile Approach in Manufacturing Companies. In: Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering: . Paper presented at 10th Swedish Production Symposium, SPS 2022 (pp. 341-353). IOS Press BV, 21
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Establishing Factors to Consider While Adopting the Agile Approach in Manufacturing Companies
2022 (English)In: Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering, IOS Press BV , 2022, Vol. 21, p. 341-353Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Due to the current fast-paced business environment, new approaches to product development (PD) have been requested. In that matter, the agile approach has gained interest among researchers and practitioners. Based on its positive results in the software industry, it has started to be adopted in the manufacturing industry. Nevertheless, there are factors that manufacturing companies must consider while adopting the agile approach, and there is a lack of in-depth empirical studies about those factors. In that matter, this paper presents the preliminary findings of a single case study of a large manufacturing company. The data collection consisted of fifteen semi-structured interviews with persons with key roles in different organizational functions. The identified factors were analyzed and presented according to a product development system (PDS) perspective which encompasses people, process, and technology and tools subsystems. For the people subsystem, the study identified factors related to cross-functional integration and coordination, cross-functional communication, organizational culture, understanding of the agile approach, definition of roles and responsibilities, and people involvement and support. In respect of the process subsystem, the study identified factors associated with workload leveling and development interfaces. Regarding the technology and tools subsystem, the study identified factors related to the integration of information systems, and technology and manufacturing readiness levels. As a result, the study contributes further to the establishment of the factors that may influence the adoption of the agile approach in the PDS of a large manufacturing company. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
IOS Press BV, 2022
Keywords
agile, factors, Integrated product and production development, manufacturing company, product development system
National Category
Economics and Business
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-59535 (URN)10.3233/ATDE220153 (DOI)2-s2.0-85132824921 (Scopus ID)9781614994398 (ISBN)
Conference
10th Swedish Production Symposium, SPS 2022
Available from: 2022-07-06 Created: 2022-07-06 Last updated: 2022-07-06Bibliographically approved
Åkesson, J., Sundström, A., Chirumalla, K. & Johansson, G. (2022). Exploring Challenges to Design Product-Service Systems in SMEs: A Case Study. In: Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering: . Paper presented at 10th Swedish Production Symposium, SPS 2022 (pp. 63-74). IOS Press BV, 21
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Exploring Challenges to Design Product-Service Systems in SMEs: A Case Study
2022 (English)In: Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering, IOS Press BV , 2022, Vol. 21, p. 63-74Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

The transition towards a circular economy (CE) is part of the solution to reduce the global consumption of natural resources and increase resource efficiency in society. Product-Service Systems (PSS) is seen as one of the effective ways of moving towards a CE. PSS leads to an increase in product use by sharing or renting, and by extending material and product lifecycles through repair, remanufacturing, reuse and recycling. Therefore, designing PSSs have great potential to facilitate the CE transition. Many SMEs show an increased interest in a CE transition; however, they fall short in taking the right path towards designing PSS. Designing PSSs involve a rearrangement of resources, and SMEs usually do not possess the same resources as larger firms. Previous research clarifies that the transition from traditional product design to designing PSS is challenging for SMEs. This paper adds insights to the PSS literature and industrial practices through a single-case study by identifying and describing the challenges an SME may face when intending to design PSS. The data is based on interviews, workshops, and internal archive documents. The findings show that an SME faces both internal and external challenges. The internal challenges related to time constraints, the current business model, lack of financial resources, organisational structure and internal processes, dedicated employees for business and service development, and competence. The external challenges relate to SMEs position in the value chain, customer interests in PSS solutions, and handling of reversed logistics.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
IOS Press BV, 2022
Keywords
Challenges, Circular economy, PSS, Servitization, Small and medium-sized enterprises
National Category
Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-59537 (URN)10.3233/ATDE220126 (DOI)2-s2.0-85132814510 (Scopus ID)9781614994398 (ISBN)
Conference
10th Swedish Production Symposium, SPS 2022
Available from: 2022-07-06 Created: 2022-07-06 Last updated: 2022-09-21Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0003-2314-3357

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