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Navigating the emergence of circular ecosystems for electric vehicle battery second life: Prerequisites and pathways in firm- and ecosystem-level interactions

Author

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  • Chirumalla, Koteshwar
  • Stefan, Ioana
  • Kulkov, Ignat
  • Johansson, Glenn
  • Dahlquist, Erik

Abstract

Firms require multi-stakeholder ecosystems to successfully create and implement circular business models for electric vehicle (EV) battery second life. However, there is a notable absence of guiding instruments to assist EV battery ecosystem actors in formulating and managing strategies for battery second-life operations. This study's aim is to analyze how circular ecosystems are formed and managed, considering the interplay between firm-level and ecosystem-level interactions. The study identifies 17 prerequisites divided into four stages of circular ecosystem management, considering the interplay between firm- and ecosystem-level aspects, as well as short- and long-term perspectives. These four stages of circular ecosystem management are firm-level assessment, ecosystem formation, firm-level adaptation, and ecosystem orchestration. Based on these four stages, the study identifies three distinct pathways through which EV battery ecosystem actors can effectively form and manage second-life operations. Additionally, a decision tree model is proposed to navigate ecosystem actors through these four stages for enabling battery second-life operations. This research makes a valuable contribution to the field of ecosystem management and circular ecosystems, specifically by examining the interplay between firm-level and ecosystem-level dynamics within the context of EV battery second-life operations. The findings hold significance for both academic researchers and practitioners seeking to implement and scale-up circular business models and circular ecosystems in the realm of EV batteries.

Suggested Citation

  • Chirumalla, Koteshwar & Stefan, Ioana & Kulkov, Ignat & Johansson, Glenn & Dahlquist, Erik, 2025. "Navigating the emergence of circular ecosystems for electric vehicle battery second life: Prerequisites and pathways in firm- and ecosystem-level interactions," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:techno:v:147:y:2025:i:c:s0166497225001385
    DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103306
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