Energy Recovery through End-of-Life Vehicles Recycling in Developing Countries

Abstract

End-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling is a process that spends energy and could be an energy source as well. This part of energy recovering depends on many different factors related to the broad and local aspects of ELV recycling. The ELV recycling process is consuming energy from different energy sources (electrical, fossil), however, this consumption is lower in relation to energy consumption during the production of new vehicle parts from the very beginning. This article attempts to promote an integrated approach in the analysis of the problem of energy recovery through ELV recycling. Authors aim to analyze the ELV recycling process as an energy generator and to present possibilities for its energy recovery. The research analyses are based on the empirical investigation of ELV recycling in the Republic of Serbia, as a developing country, and on defined statistical model presenting the impact of ELV recycling on energy generation, spending, and conservation during one-year intervals. Research results showed that the higher ELV generation rates may led to a higher energy recovery, and environmental and socio-economic sustainability.