Analysis of Circular Economy in Electric Mobility Scooters

This report analyzes the application of circular economy principles to the manufacturing of electric scooters designed for disabled individuals. The report delves into various components of the scooter, including the chassis, wheels, suspension, seat assembly, and electrical parts such as motors, switches, wires, circuit boards, and batteries. It explores the use of sustainable materials like magnesium alloys, solid urethane tires, and copper wires to enhance the circularity of the manufacturing process, reducing waste and promoting durability. The report highlights design considerations for each component to ensure longevity, ease of maintenance, and recyclability, ultimately aiming to minimize the environmental impact of electric scooters and promote a more sustainable approach to mobility solutions. The discussion covers topics like material selection, design optimization, and component integration to enhance the circular economy of electric scooters. The report also examines how innovation in areas such as battery technology and component design can further contribute to the sustainability of these mobility devices.

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Part one
Mobility scooter for the disabled individual is basically equivalent to the wheelchair, but
the electrical scooter scooter is configured with the motor. A mobility scooter is manufactured
with the seat over 3, 4 and of late they are five wheels which are then controlled by the motors.
The main objective of this research paper is basically to check the circular economy of the
electric scooter for the disabled individual (Krul, 2010). The circular economy is a substitute for
a customary linear economy which involves manufacturing, usage, and disposal of the scooter.
This basically aims at keeping resources in use for a long period of time. The electrical scooter
for the disabled individuals is high efficacy as compared to a wheelchair (Peter, 2016). For the
manufactures, they use entirely linear of the materials (no reuse or recycling). The diagram
below illustrates a prototype of an electric scooter for disabled individuals;
Fig 1: Showing a prototype of an electric scooter for disabled people. (Collins, 2016).

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There are some different components which are employed in the manufacturing of the electric
scooter for the disabled individuals (Collins, 2016). These component are manufactured with the
materials which are made to be circular in the company. These components include the
1. Structural parts
Structural part is the vital part of the electric scooter as it provides the scooter with the support
as it operates (Peter, 2013). Some of the structural components of the electric scooter include
the following;
a. Chassis
The chassis is the key part of the electric scooter which basically provide the support to the
scooter. Just like another automobile, the chassis of the scooter is where the wheels are supported
and the floor of the scooter is made (Cimatti, 2016). The diagram below illustrates the chassis of
the electric scooter for the disabled individuals.
Fig2: Showing a chassis for the electric scooter made for the disabled. (Cimatti, 2016).
Since these scooters are made for the disabled individuals, they should be made as light as
possible and at the same time, they should be very strong and durable to enable them to have a
circular economy (to make them be in use for a longer period of time) (Wijk, 2015). Therefore,
for this reason, these chassis are made of magnesium alloy, in most cases, these alloys are made

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of aluminum and magnesium. Aluminum is basically preferred to other materials because of their
lower density and their higher strength. At the same time, the chassis thickness and structure are
designed again by using the topography optimization as well as the size optimization (Garrido,
2014). The magnesium alloy makes the productivity and manufacturing of the scooter more
linear and hence highly promotes planning for future products made of the electric scooters for
the disabled.
b. Wheel
The wheels of the electric scooter are the rotating part whose effects makes the automobile move
from one position to another (Rutqvist, 2017). The wheels are pressured to make them strong and
make them operates effectively. The diagram below illustrates the wheel of the electric scooter;
Fig 3: Showing electric scooter wheels. (Rutqvist, 2017)
These wheels are basically made of different materials with the main aim of achieving circular
economy for the electric scooter. As a sustainability manager for a manufacturer of electric
mobility scooters, I would prefer to use some materials like solid urethane tire in making electric
scooter wheels (Bonvoisin, 2017). Such wheels are made with front plastic electric scooter
having a solid urethane airless flat-free tire. For such wheel, they contain wheel bearing to help
reduce friction during the operation of the electric scooter. The bearing will as well optimize the

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operation of the electric scooter, therefore, achieving the circular economy of the production of
these scooters. The bearing is placed in the bearing spacer. Such wheel of the scooter is
illustrated in the diagram below;
Fig 4: Showing electric scooter wheels made of solid urethane. (Ryding, 2017).
The circular economy for the production of the electric scooter wheels is further achieved by use
of wide wheels. These wheels are made with the main objective of realizing the mission of the
design. To realize this objective I designed a wide wheel having a revolutionized as well as
integrated architecture mechanism and this leads to the connected combination of every part thus
improves on the durability of the wheels, therefore, promoting the circular economy and makes
the material and energy flows are entirely linear in the production of this electric scooter for the
disabled individuals (Ryding, 2017). Aluminum alloy dies casting process is what makes the
wide wheel of the scooter apart and this evaluation leads to sleeker looker scooter having a
higher level of sophistication. The wide wheel to makes the scooter more stable and comfortable
for the physically challenged individual (disabled individual).

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c. suspension
The suspension is the structural part of electric scooter, the suspension connects the handles and
the front wheel of an electric scooter. The suspension must be strong enough but light at the
same time to enable the disabled person to control the scooter (Committee, 2010). Therefore just
like the wheel and the chassis the suspension is made of the magnesium alloy of aluminum.
Therefore this will increase the circular economy of the suspension of the scooter. The diagram
below illustrates the suspension of an electric scooter.
Fig 5: Showing the suspension of electric scooter (Committee, 2010)
The circular of the suspension basically helps to promote the sales of the electric scooter for the
company.

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d. Seat assembly
The seat assembly of the electric scooter for the disabled individual is that part where the
operator sits on as he/ she rides the scooter (Arterburn, 2013). The seat assembly should be
made very soft and cozy since the disabled individual sits for long as they ride. To help achieve
the circular/ linearity of the production of such seats they made of suspension springs and very
soft synthetics which are basically covered using leather.
Fig 6: Showing the seat assembly of the electric scooter. (Arterburn, 2013)
The seat assembly which could benefit from new innovation will be Comfort, durability, ease of
cleaning, fire retardant qualities as well as appealing appearance. With these qualities of the seat
assembly, there will be an optimization of the circular of the economy and the linearity of the
materials employed in the manufacturing of such electric scooter seats (Footner, 2014). These
materials employed in the manufacture of electric scooter seat assembly are relatively durable
and very comfy, this help to avoid the recycling of the materials as they can be employed to
almost the full lifetime of the electric scooter.

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2. Electrical part
The electrical part is very significant in the development and the operation of this electric
mobility scooter. It is in this part which help in the movement of the automobile (Wilson, 2013).
These parts is employed as the part which helps in pushing the wheel (making the wheels to
rotate hence the movement of the electric mobility scooter). Some of the basic parts of the
electrical part of the scooter include the following;
a. motors
Motors are the electrical machines which basically converts the electrical energy supplied
(from battery) to mechanical energy (motion). In the scooter, the motors are driven by the
installed batteries in which after the conversion of energy the mechanical energy are employed in
the rotation of the wheels of the scooter (Bayoumi, 2010). Motors are made up of two key parts
which are the stator (stationary part) and the rotor (the rotating part). In the stator are the
windings which are conductors where the electrical energy is supplied to from the battery. And
in the rotor are the magnets which will thus rotate when there is currently flowing in the
conductors (Ancell, 2015). Due to that interaction, there will be a motion which will then make
the rotor to rotate. The rotor is then coupled to the rare wheels of the scooter hence the motion.
The diagram below illustrates a prototype of the motor employed in the operation of the electric
mobility scooter.

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Fig 7: Showing the electric scooter motor. (Ancell, 2015)
Fig 8: Showing the electric motor in operation (Ancell, 2015)
To make the motor employed in this production linear and circular then the motor is built with a
strong housing and windings are made of relatively stronger wires which will enable this motor
to be used for the rest of the scooter´s lifetime (Corrigan, 2015).

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b. Switches
An electrical switch always requires a key for their operation, they are always operated using the
keys, so it is the key which the rider will employ in turning it ON/OFF. Electric scooter and
electric bicycle key switches are used to turn the scoter´s power on and off (Lears, 2013). This
key can only be removed in the off position to prevent it from becoming lost while driving the
scooter. The diagram below illustrates the electric scooter´s switch
Fig 9: Showing the electric scooter switches. (Lears, 2013)
These scooters are made using copper wires and I would prefer a thickness of about 1.5mm2 to
make the copper wires and the whole switch more linear and circular (Scott, 2012). The switch
of the scooter is of different sizes are provided in the rooms to receive the conduits and wiring in
them. The key which operates the switch will be made of the steal since it is strong enough to
make the system more circular.

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c. Wires
The wires employed in the electric scooter are very significant as they help in the connection of
the electrical part of the scooter (Miesenberger, 2013). Through the connection, the scooter will
hence move through electrical means. It is the wires which are used to the connection of
electrical parts likes the power switch, motor, battery, throttle and the speed controller as seen in
the following diagram.
Fig 10: Showing the electric scooter wires. (Miesenberger, 2013).
For the electrical connection, I would prefer using a copper wire to make it very circular and
linear. The tips of the insulated copper wires I would prefer the use of uninsulated copper wire
of a thickness of 2.5mm2. The insulated wire too would take the same thickness of 2.5mm2 as
sown in the diagram below;

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Fig 11: Showing the electric scooter copper wires. (Miesenberger, 2013).
d. Circuit board
The circuit board is like the engine of the electric scooter, it is through the circuit board that the
scooter controls all the operations of the scooter. The diagram below illustrates the circuit board
of the scooter made for the disabled individual