ENGT5220: Circular Economy Research Paper on Electric Motorcycles

This research paper delves into the application of the circular economy model within the context of electric motorcycle manufacturing. It examines the lifecycle of electric motorcycles, from the sourcing of materials to the end-of-life management of components. The paper highlights the importance of sustainable practices, including recycling and reuse of materials like structural and electrical components such as chassis, batteries, motors, and tires. It discusses the classification of components, the processes involved in recycling and remanufacturing, and the potential environmental benefits of adopting a circular approach. The paper also touches upon the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing circular economy principles in the electric motorcycle industry, including the need for efficient material flow, design for disassembly, and the development of closed-loop systems. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the long and short-term mechanisms employed to ensure sustainability in the manufacturing system, emphasizing the viability of environmental conservation. The research provides a comprehensive overview of the circular economy in electric motorcycle manufacturing, offering valuable insights for industry professionals and researchers alike.

RESEARCH PAPER ON THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
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Introduction
The circular economy has become one of the common approaches used in the
environmental sustainability manufacturing processes. It is characterized by the creation of the
economic model in cases where there is an absence of environmental impact generation. The
traditional model is characterized by a linear flow of energy and materials and therefore reusing
as well as recycling is never practiced. The circular economy is therefore treated as an alternative
model to the traditional one. It is important to note that there is no requirement for the extra cost
or variation in the prices in order to ascertain a circular economy for the case of a motorcycle.
This implies that there will be no loss of revenue by the manufacturing company. The
manufacturing sustainability includes services, equipment, products, infrastructure as well as
means of achieving their linear flow. This is done in the planning, recycling and reusing of future
products as well as model of business for electric motorcycle manufacturing company. The
components classification is usually needed in order to effectively manufacture electric
motorcycles.The components of such motorcycles are classified as the electrical parts, structural
parts and finally miscellaneous. The parts considered to be miscellaneous include tires,
bodywork, transmission system and finally upholstery. The electrical components include
batteries, sires, circuit boards, motors and finally wires.
Some of the subtopics that have been discussed in this particular paper include electric
motorcycle lifecycle description after incorporation of sustainability, the long as well as short
term mechanisms used by the company to ensure incorporation of the sustainability in the
manufacturing system. This makes this particular process to be viable in terms of environmental
conservation.

Structural Components
The structural components that are required during the process of manufacturing of the
electrical motorcycles, especially for the disabled, include chassis, seat assembly, wheels and
finally suspensions. The number of wheels that are required in the bicycle will always be
dependent on the type of design of the electric motorcycle as per the recommendation or desire
of the manufacturing company(Sakamoto and Honda 2014). It is possible to obtain the circular
wheels by first collecting all the wheels that have been used up from the electrical motorcycles
that have been dumped. Also, the company may choose to buy the secondhand components and
sort them out properly before they can be used. The sorting process will involve removal of
defective components hence the bicycle can be used again effectively.
After the metallic rims have been repaired, they can be painted properly so as to be reused
in the manufacture of other wheels. In order to ensure that rim is a component of good quality, it
can be properly melted by the use of furnace while employing some considerable amount of
energy. The molten substance will then be subjected to the purification process so as to have all
contaminants removed prior to the solidification stage. The molten component can then put into
the required shape as the cooling process progresses to make the other required structural
components(Hasegawa et al 2015).
Shock absorbers as well as spring collectively for a system of suspension. In general,
there are two types of the system of the suspension which are employed in the manufacturing of
the electric motorcycle. These systems are front suspension as well as rear suspension. These
suspensions serve to insulate the vehicle as well as the rider from the shocks from the roads. The
suspensions also serve to ensure that the wheels are kept as close as possible to the ground hence

assisting in the provision of the control to the operators of the motorcycle with electrical
characteristics.
The majority of these components of suspension have materials which are metallic in
nature and it is possible to have them recycled through the process of sorting out. The sorting
process will involve shock absorber as well as springs which will be subjected to a high
temperature to allow them to melt, undertaken through purification and finally be allowed to
cool. After the metal has been molten, it is possible to have it in any shape as well as a form of
the system of the suspension . Such a system may be used in the replacement of the old system as
far as the operating electric motorcycle is concerned.Other than replacement, they may also be
applied in the manufacturing of the required parts(Matsuda and Kawasaki 2015).
Chassis is considered to be one of the basic and crucial components of the electric
motorcycle which form the framework. It is this framework which offers the support to the
transmission system, wheels as well as the steering wheel. The front and rear wheel are all
connected to the framework of chassis by the use of the suspension system. The suspension
system is actually coupled directly with these wheels(Honda et al.2015).
There are other types of the chassis which are used by various companies in the
manufacture of the electric motorcycle including perimeter frames, backbone, and monocoque
chassis and finally underbone tubes. The materials that are commonly used in the manufacture of
the chassis include the following: titanium, aluminum, steel and finally magnesium. The
recycling process of the material will begin by sorting out the old components in order to
effectively remove materials which reconsidered to be secondary in the chassis. The remaining
compounds are then melted in the furnace by the use of a large amount of energy. It is important

to note that the required amount of energy in the melting of the chassis parts can never be
compared to the quantity of the energy required to produce the new components of the same
parts using virgin raw materials(Hoffmann et al.2015). The chassis will be first shredded in order
for it to fit inside the furnace volume prior to melting. After the process of melting, the resulting
molten substance can be used in the manufacture of other various parts including the suspension
system of the electric motorcycle.
The assembly of the seat is specifically used by the disabled by ensuring that there is the
provision of the riding as well as the seating comfort. There is the incorporation of various
attributes of the design in the determination of the assembly for comfort. Some of the
components that are used include the armrest. The concept of the material flow is used in the
facilitation of the recycling of the seat assembly which incorporates sorting of the old seats.
During the sorting process, there is a separation of all the used components for seat making as
well as the metallic parts.The metallic components are taken through shredding, purification of
the melt and finally solidification to allow for the formation of the new part components.
Ideally, the structural components are very important considering that they assist in the
provision of the mechanical strength of the electric motorcycle for the disabled. The structural
components will always ensure that the machine (electrical motorcycle system) is strong enough
to carry huge loads during its use. In fact, the most crucial part of the structural component is
called the frame. It is the point of concentration by the manufacturers during the design phase
and it must be subjected to load test regularly. This particular mechanical component is as
indicated in the figure below.

Figure 1: Structural components(Saisirirat et al 2013) .
Electrical Components.
The electrical components are mostly manufactured by external manufacturing industries
other than the company responsible for the manufacturing of the electric motorcycle. The
components are then imported by a motorcycle manufacturing company. The motor is fixed in
the electric motorcycle in such a way that it drives the rear wheel. The energy flow in motors can
be made to assume a circular type of motion. The worn-out parts are collected and then taken to
the company to be recycled. The recycled components are then applied in the system to provide
the energy required for powering the structure(Hasegawa et al 2015)..
There are various types of batteries used in the provision of energy to power the system.
The type of battery to be used in a particular system depends on the size and design of the
system. However, for the case of an electric motorcycle, lead-acid batteries are preferred. The
energy flow in the batteries should be in a circular manner to enable the recycling process to take
place which include lead refining, lead reduction, and battery breaking. Before the recycling
process of the batteries begun, the acid should be drained, treated and neutralized after which the

breaking of the batteries using hummer mill is done. The scraps that result from the broken
battery include a mixture of copper, antimony, lead oxide, metallic lead, and calcium.
The lead acid batteries can be obtained from the lead batteries when the metal from the
kiln is trapped in the recycling process and then taken to the refining kettle for further processing
to produce leaders of good quality(Zhang et al 2013). Worn-out switches and wires of the
electric motorcycle are also sorted out just like the motors and circuits from the structural
components they are connected to. The sorted materials, wires, and switches are then taken to
suppliers responsible for recycling purposes. The motorcycle operates on the basis that the
battery is fully charged is connected to the motor which again is connected to the rear wheels by
a chain to propel the wheel forward. The lead battery which is used in the electric motorcycle
should be powerful enough to run the motor for long distances. The battery used in the electric
motorcycle is shown in the diagram below.
Figure 1: A figure showing the battery used in the electric motorcycle(Hasegawa et al 2015)

Figure 2: A figure showing the motor of the electric motorcycle(Saisirirat et al 2013)
Miscellaneous Components
These are components which are required at the assembling stage of the electric
motorcycle for the disabled. The suppliers dealing with the miscellaneous components supply the
motorcycle company with these components. The supplies include the tires which are used to
make the wheels. The company should, therefore, be responsible for sustainability to allow
efficient flow of materials into the economy. The efficient flow of tires in the economy can be
achieved by carrying out sustainable practices such as proper disposal, recycling or reusing of
the tires.
The recycled products of the tires can be used as construction materials and ground
rubber application and also in areas like erosion control, slope stability, fluvial protection, and
road infrastructure. The company manufacturing the electric motorcycle is also supplied by oil
which is applied on the gears to and other moving parts to reduce friction. The upholstery is used
to cover the seat assembly to keep it clean and to beautify the seat assembly. The worn-out
upholstery can be used as mats(Hakamata et al 2015).
The life cycle of electric motorcycles

The major issue for developing the project of electric motorcycle is to ensure a flow of
circular economy, therefore, it is very important to analyze the life cycle of this product in
particular.in the effort to achieve this flow of circular economy, it means that no worn-out
materials also called wastes will be disposed instead they will be recycled and use in the
manufacture of other products. After ensuring that their sufficient materials required for
manufacture and energy are also available, it now becomes easy to describe the life cycle of an
electric motorcycle for the disabled based on the sustainability, manufacturing process, usage,
composition and source and the impacts it has to the environment. The manufacturing process of
this type of electric motorcycle requires components such as seat assembly, wheels, wires
switches, motors, chassis, suspensions, tires, batteries, circuit boards, bodyworks, transmission,
and upholstery(Morandin, Ferrari and Bolognani 2015).
These components can be obtained or acquired from other fields of manufacturing or
within the company. The components that can be found within the company include the
following seat, chassis, assembly, wheels, and suspension while the components that are
manufactured outside the company and then imported by the company for assembling include
circuit boards, tires, upholstery, switches, motors, and transmission(Ishikawa et al 2013). The
manufacturing process for the electric motorcycle for the disabled is divided into different
categories which are bodyworks production, parts, and motor manufacturer, painting of the
chassis and assembly. The first step in the process is the manufacture of the components that will
be used in designing the product. The materials which cannot be manufactured by the company
such as the electrical components are imported from other manufacturing industries.
The body of this motorcycle is mostly made of steel with only some parts made of
plastic. Nonetheless, the company is trying to supersede the steel parts and the parts made of

plastic with aluminum. The design of the bodywork (style and shape) is a decision that is made
by the company. Materials such as aluminum, fiberglass and reinforced plastics have been
specifically applied in other fields due to their desirable features. The second step in the life
cycle manufacturing process of the electric motorcycle is the production of chassis. The chassis
acts as the body in which other components like motors, wheels, steering, brakes, transmission,
and mechanisms are pedestaled. The third step is the assembly stage. This is where the materials
are assembled to come up with the real motorcycle. The fourth and the last stage in the life cycle
of manufacturing the electric motorcycle is painting. Painting prevents corrosion of the body
parts and maintains the visual quality; therefore, the regular painting should be done as the
surface can be scratched.
The emerging trend in the manufacturing industries is the use of infrared-curing which
conserves on energy and time and at the same time reduces the size of the dryer. After painting,
electric motorcycles can then be transported to traders and customers. The main reason for the
construction of electric motorcycle for the disabled is to facilitate their movement most likely
transportation of their light luggage. By use of the electric motorcycles, the disabled are to some
extent secure from the adverse weather conditions which may impose health hazard conditions
on them. This is to mean that the mobility of these people with disabilities has been improved.
The manufacturing processes of the components of the electric motorcycles in the industries,
usage, and disposal of the worn-out parts have greatly affected the environment. The emissions
from the factories may lead to the dilapidation of the ozone layer or facilitate the formation of
acid rain which is treacherous to both plants and animals.
The unnecessary movements of the motorcycle in the course of usage may result in
energy loss. This also may lead to tear and wear of the tires and other moving parts and reduces

the lifespan of the battery before the expected time of diminution elapsed. When the motorcycle
is wrecked, the wastes should not be disposed of carelessly as they pollute the environment,
rather they should be stored and later on taken to be recycled in the effort to achieve the circular
economy. If the electric motorcycle is not totally wrecked, the few worn-out parts can be
replaced with new ones.
Short term steps towards a sustainable system
The short term steps that are supposed to be undertaken by the company In order to
achieve a sustainable system for the miscellaneous, electrical as well as structural components
will involve careful understanding as well as the practical implementation of the concept of
environmental conservation ion the production(Chung And Hung 2014).The understanding of
the concept meaning will involve among other things stake holders engagement as well as a
commitment to the goals of the sustainability, establishment of the processes, tracking of the
sustainability progress in order to ensure that all the expectation are met. The first step will,
therefore, involve the definition of the system sustainability parameters starting from individual
part components to the whole assembly of the electric motorcycle. The requirement of the
sustainability steps will be applied by the company to ensure that all the processes for recycling
of the miscellaneous as well as structural components are incorporated in the work(Fujihara et al
2016).
The processes of making a decision in regard to the processes of recycling of the
components by the company will ensure that all the changes are incorporated. The incorporation
of the changes to the steps will put into consideration those steps which are never supportive of
the system of sustainability. The second step will involve effective communication n with the

stakeholder on the issue that concerns sustainability. They will be informed effectively on their
roles as far as the issue of sustainability is concerned. The suppliers of the structural, as well as
the electrical components which are used in the assembly of the electric motorcycle, are the main
stakeholders of the company. The company will then be expected to set sustainability goals
which will be expected to work towards and achieve after a specific period of time. It is expected
that a considerable amount of resources including time should be channeled towards achieving
the set objectives of the sustainability.
The establishment of the processes of sustainability which will be used by the company
to ensure effective flow of the electrical, structural, as well as miscellaneous components will
then be done. This will be a pure indication of circular step incorporation in the electric
motorcycle sustainability manufacturing. The company should, therefore, track the recycling as
well as reusing of the components which can be returned to the suppliers as a way of promoting
sustainability. There should be tracking of mobility as from the manufacturing component up to
the point of the disposal by the end users.
Long term steps towards sustainability
The long terms sustainability basically refer to those steps whose impacts or
effectiveness will never be established immediately but instead become effective after a long
period of time(Chen. Tsai and Hsieh 2017). This will include the establishment of the long term
policies by the company, building of the national dialogue on the consumption mechanisms
which are considered to be responsibly sustainable, value chain member engagement and finally
the creation of the structural framework in the company whose end result is sustainable.

The integration of the first long term step will involve the incorporation of the public policy.
This kind of policy will define effectively the role of the public as far as the issue of
sustainability is concerned. The company will, therefore, be required to invest some substantial
amount of money in the staff training, integration of new standards as well as technologies which
support sustainability, clear and consistent policies.
The company will be expected to properly engage value chain members in the next long
term goals. The targeted value chain members will include suppliers; customers among others.
Their corporation will be expected as far as the collection of the dumped miscellaneous
components, structural parts as well as electrical components is concerned. These parts will be
taken back to the respective places to facilitate the recycling process. Initiatives of the national
dialogue on the responsible utilization of the electrical components by the members of the public
will be very important. This will go alongside the establishment of the branches to be used for
disposal. The dialogue is therefore expected to involve the disabled group who will be the
consumers of the very product. It is only through this approach that the company will be able to
come up with a decision which is viable as well as practically achievable(Belton 2013).
The company will, therefore, be expected to use proper channels in the
communication of its suitability goals not only within the organization but also externally to the
concerned parties. Communication of such intentions of the company in regard to sustainability
will prepare all the employees psychologically for their anticipated new roles. The replacement
of the batteries wills the solar panels will be regarded as one of the effective approaches to be
used as long term innovation towards sustainability.
Conclusion

The circular economy is an aspect of sustaining the environment characterized by the
creation of an economic model without adversely affecting the environment. There are three
categories of components required in the manufacturing process of the electric motorcycle for
the disabled. These categories include structural parts, electrical parts, and miscellaneous parts.
The steps involved in the sustainability include a collection of wastes from the electric
motorcycle, taken to the company then sorted. The process of sorting is done on the basis of the
materials used in the process of manufacturing for efficiency in the recycling process. The
components from the manufacturing company and are the major components which are used in
the manufacturing of the electric motorcycle(Asaei and Habibidoost 2013).
In the process of manufacturing, materials such as aluminum and steel cannot be
extracted independently rather; they require other minerals such as cobalt for their extraction to
be efficient and faster. These products of aluminum and steel are recyclable therefore in case of
worn-out, they can be recycled and used in the manufacture of valuable products. The
mechanical part of the electric motorcycle is essentially for support to guarantee that the
motorcycle is able to carry some load without breakage. The electrical part usually the battery, is
for propelling the wheels to ensure movement of the motorcycle. The probe that has been
discussed in this work therefore, aids in the effort of achieving the circular economy in the
presence of a circular flow of energy with reduced adverse effects on the environment.

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