Wrought and cast aluminum flows in China in the context of electric vehicle diffusion and automotive lightweighting

Electrification and vehicle weight reduction (lightweighting) trends are driving demand for wrought aluminum alloys. Given that aluminum scrap is currently downgraded as it is recycled into cast aluminum alloys, an imbalance in aluminum cycles is predicted to occur. We identified secondary aluminum flows by distinguishing alloy type in China with material flow analysis. Considering the adoption of advanced recovery techniques and the trends towards greater use of electric vehicles and vehicle lightweighting, we also estimated changes in the automotive demand for wrought and cast alloys along with aluminum scrap generation, as well as the reduced amount of primary aluminum used in automobiles. The results revealed the potential to recycle about 87−183 kt of wrought alloys in 2019 and about 1,054−7,152 kt in 2050 within a well-managed vehicle recycling system, thereby reducing the amount of primary aluminum ingot required for automobile production by 10−37% between 2019 to 2050.