This IEEE Access paper examines where robotics can unlock value in electric vehicle battery disassembly. We model process flows, labour costs, cycle times, safety requirements, and automation readiness to highlight the opportunities—and limits—of deploying robotics at scale.
Study Scope
- Benchmarked manual, semi-automated, and fully automated lines using detailed task analyses and time-motion data.
- Quantified cost drivers such as tooling, sensing, workforce training, and downtime for common EV pack archetypes.
- Considered regulatory and safety constraints that influence achievable throughput and the need for human oversight.
Key Insights
- Hybrid cells combining vision-guided robotics with human verification often deliver the best return on investment.
- End-of-life pack variability remains the dominant risk factor; flexible automation and rapid reprogramming are critical.
- Collaborative robots with variable autonomy strike a balance between safety, productivity, and capital expenditure.