RECIRCULATE addresses the needs of European recycling sector by overcoming current challenges relating to automated dismantling and sorting; safe logistics; fast, cost-effective and reliable State of Health and State of Safety characterization. Combining these advances with a blockchain-based platform, that will combine the data collected during dismantling and recycling and the battery provenance, will enable a unique battery passport and virtual marketplace for e-mobility, consumer and stationary Battery Energy Storage Systems. This approach will enable the RECIRCULATE consortium to create a cascade approach that will enable increased end-of-life battery repair, reuse, remanufacture and recycling. The advances in RECIRCULATE will based on best-in-world innovations, including: • Automated dismantling based on Artificial Intelligence with accurate sorting by SoX and battery provenance for recycling. • Fast, cost-effective, reliable SoX characterization; Safe storage and transportation based on smart logistics solutions. • Blockchain-based Battery Passports that tracks key battery data, and enables both a complete circular system for e-mobility batteries and a unique, blockchain-based virtual marketplace. The unique virtual marketplace will allow for the creation of new circular business models for repair, reuse, remanufacture and recycling of second-life batteries, minimizing cost, time, energy and environmental impact whilst maximizing battery value. RECIRCULATE represents a pan-European consortium of world leading organisations that are looking to commercialize these technologies of European origin. The coordinator, Centria, is leading activities in battery dismantling. The consortium is strengthened by very large organisations, including: Ford, who are currently undertaking development for e-mobility, and DHL a global leader in logistics and reverse logistics as well as European SMEs with world leading technologies.

Heavy-duty vehicles account for about 25% of EU road transport CO2 emissions and about 6% of total EU emissions. In line with the Paris Agreement and Green Deal targets, Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 setting CO2 emission standards for HDVs (from August 14, 2019) forces the transition to a seamless integration of zero-emission vehicles into fleets. In line with the European 2050 goals ESCALATE aims to demonstrate high-efficiency zHDV powertrains (up to 10% increase) for long-haul applications that will provide a range of 800 km without refueling/recharging and cover at least 500 km average daily operation (6+ months) in real conditions. ESCALATE will achieve this by following modularity and scalability approach starting from the β-level of hardware and software innovations and aiming to reach the γ-level in the first sprint and eventually the δ-level at the project end through its 2 sprint-V-cycle. ESCALATE is built on the novel concepts around 3 main innovation areas, which are: i) Standardized well-designed, cost effective modular and scalable multi-powertrain components; ii) Fast Fueling & Grid-friendly charging solutions; and iii) Digital Twin (DT) & AI-based management tools considering capacity, availability, speed, and nature of the charging infrastructures as well as the fleet structures. Throughout the project lifetime, 5 pilots, 5 DTs and 5 case studies on TCO (with the target of 10% reduction), together with their environmental performance via TranSensusLCA will be performed. The ultimate goal is to develop well-designed modular building blocks with a TRL7/8 based on business model innovations used for 3 types of zHDVs {b-HDV,f-HDV,r-HDV}. Furthermore, 3 white papers will be produced, one of which will contribute defining the pathway for reducing well-to-wheel GHG emissions from HDVs based on results and policy assessments.