Circular economy for electric vehicle drives
The ReDriveS research project ("Automated and digitalised circular economy solutions for electric axle drive systems") is entering the implementation phase.
Consisting of 25 funded partners from industry, SMEs and science - supplemented by associated partners from research and business - ReDriveS is one of the national lighthouse projects in the BMWE specialist programme "DNS der zukunftsfähigen Mobilität - Digital, Nachhaltig, Systemfähig". ReDriveS has a project volume of more than €25 million with total funding of over €16 million.
The project aims to develop economically viable and ecologically beneficial circular economy solutions for electric axle drives. Automated dismantling processes, innovative recycling methods for rare earth magnets and the use of digital twins will create a cross-industry basis for sustainable electromobility.
ReDriveS addresses three central themes of the mobility transition: Digitalisation, sustainability and system capability.
The focus is on:
- the development of automated, robot-guided dismantling systems for electric axle drives,
- recycling processes for rare earth magnets (NdFeB) and other strategic materials, and
- the development of a digital ecosystem with digital twins for cross-manufacturer data utilisation.
The project contributes significantly to the resilience of the value chain in electromobility and makes an important contribution to meeting future recycling quotas and reducing the carbon footprint of electric vehicles in Germany and Europe.
The project is being coordinated by Schaeffler AG. The project will run for 36 months and is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). TÜV Rheinland Forschungs- und Innovationsmanagement GmbH is the project sponsor.
At the official launch on 12 and 13 January 2026, more than 80 participants from the consortium met at the Schaeffler site in Herzogenaurach to celebrate the start of the research project. The official project kick-off took place on 12 January: In the afternoon and evening, Stefan Heidemann (BMWE) gave welcoming remarks and keynote speeches from business and research, and the consortium leader Schaeffler presented the overall ReDriveS project. Afterwards, a joint networking event provided space for personal dialogue between the project partners. On the morning of 13 January, the current status and objectives of the work packages were presented. The programme was rounded off with a report from the project sponsor and an outlook on the next steps in project implementation.
With its combination of automation, digitalisation and the circular economy, ReDriveS is exemplary for the transformation of the German automotive industry towards sustainable, data-driven and resource-efficient production systems. Once completed, the results of the project will be transferred to industrial applications and utilised as an industry solution for OEMs, suppliers and recyclers.
In the ReDriveS project, FFT is developing innovative testing technologies for state-of-health testing, automated solutions for rotor and stator disassembly and new business models for the circular economy. In this way, FFT is making a significant contribution to strengthening sustainability, resource conservation and efficiency throughout the life cycle of electric axle drives.
Participants in the ReDriveS project include Schaeffler AG, AVL Software and Functions GmbH, Circu Li-Ion, EKS InTec GmbH, FEV, FFT Produktionssysteme, Fraunhofer IPA, Fraunhofer LBF, Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences, LPKF Laser & Electronics SE, Chair of FAPS at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, msg for automotive, Öko-Institut, Robert Bosch GmbH, The Battery Lifecycle Company GmbH (BLC), TU Bergakademie Freiberg, TU Clausthal - IEVB, TU Clausthal - IGMR, Volkswagen AG.
