TECHNOLOGY & AI
TECHNOLOGY & AI
optimise resource use , product life cycles and track product composition . For example , its DemandCaster helps manufacturers accurately forecast demand , ensuring efficient and sufficient inventory management .
EV SECTOR STRENGTHENS THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
As Chris explains , traditionally car manufacturing has been linear , on the following structure : extracting raw materials , building cars and scrapping them at the end . A circular economy keeps resources in use as long as possible , which he says for EVs means :
• Designing for disassembly : Making EVs easier to disassemble allows valuable components like batteries and motors to be reused or recycled .
• Second life for batteries : EV batteries retain significant charge after their automotive life . Plex extends their lifespan and reduces waste by designing for second-life applications in energy storage systems .
• Using recycled materials : Incorporating more recycled materials like steel and aluminium into EV production reduces reliance on new resources and lowers the environmental impact .
As with many sustainability and circularity pursuits , collaboration and partnerships are vital to enabling the revolution of production processes and the speeding up of development of electric delivery vehicles .
Chris emphasises the significance of partnerships in driving innovation and efficiency within the manufacturing industry , particularly in the EV sector . He says these collaborations are vital for revolutionising production processes and accelerating the development of sustainable solutions .
Plex , for example , works with The ShyftGroup – a leading manufacturer of specialty electric delivery vehicles – and has been instrumental in streamlining
98 [ July 2024 ] EVMAGAZINE . COM