Recently, remanufacturing approach/technology, which includes a series of the processes of disassembling, cleaning, inspecting, repairing/reconditioning, reassembling components for resale, is becoming more popular as companies look for a way to combat the current climate crisis, and as it allows companies to reduce environmental impacts and to save energy and resources. This study analyzed the reduction effect of six environmental impacts and the savings effect of energy and resources by turbocharger remanufacturing compared to its newly manufacturing using a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The results show that the most significant benefit of the turbocharger remanufacturing related to environmental impacts was the global warming potential (GWP), which could be reduced by 52.2%, followed by the abiotic depletion potential (ADP), terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TETP), human toxicity potential (HTP), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FAETP) and marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential (MAETP) which could be reduced by 51.9%, 44.8%, 44.2%, 42.6%, and 36.7%, respectively. Also, its resource saving could be obtained from 21.7 to 73.5% depending on the type of resources. Furthermore, turbocharger remanufacturing offered a significant energy saving of 83.9%. The results obtained from this study could be used for national policy-making to a net-zero carbon transition.
The recent announcement by the European Union of the Fit for 55 Package and a prospective ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 has prompted a notable surge in the electric vehicle (EV) market. The shift toward EVs concurrently presents challenges, namely the resource management of used EV batteries, particularly their reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze the effects of the reduced environmental impacts of a remanufactured portable power station (RPPS) compared with those of a new portable power station (NPPS) using life cycle assessment (LCA) and the economic benefits gained from reusing used EV batteries. The results of the LCA of the RPPS indicated a notable environmental advantage, with reductions of 42.01% in GWP and 41.91% in ADP compared with those achieved by the NPPS. Moreover, the economic benefits of the waste battery remanufacturing business amounted to USD 593,212 at an annual sales volume of 1000 units. The environmental benefits of remanufacturing practices represent valuable support for policies centered on remanufacturing and reusing used EV batteries. The findings of this study could stimulate a future market for products repurposed from used EV batteries, thereby further fostering sustainability in this sector.