The importance of inverse logistics for public transport companies operating a large battery electric bus fleet

Abstract

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular to reduce environmental impact and to make logistics systems more cost-effective. This trend is affecting not only passenger cars but also public transport, especially in developed countries. For electric buses, the recycling of high-capacity batteries is becoming an increasingly important issue, as no generally applicable recycling model has yet been developed in this area. The paper presents a literature analysis in this field and identifies the main trends in battery recycling. In essence, it opens the way for future research, i. e. the elaboration of different operational models.