SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY PERFORMANCE IN REVERSE LOGISTICS NETWORKS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35261/barometer.v11i3.13234Abstract
The accelerating growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market necessitates robust closed-loop supply chains (CLSC) to manage end-of-life batteries. However, the existing global literature remains significantly fragmented. This systematic review delivers an extensive diagnostic mapping of 33 influential studies to address three core research questions concerning network design, operational boundaries, and structural research gaps. The findings indicate that current scholarship is strongly polarized across three disconnected pillars: network configuration, operational uncertainty, and macro-level policy. Moreover, a persistent methodological divide separates micro-level operations research from macro-level behavioral frameworks. Physical network optimization models offer substantial spatial and logistical precision in facility allocation but continue to treat dynamic regulatory instruments as fixed, static constants. In contrast, macro-governance simulations and game-theoretic approaches capture policy volatility and multi-actor compliance elasticity, yet function within a spatial void, disregarding real-world multi-echelon capacity constraints and logistical bottlenecks. As a result, prevailing frameworks fail to assess how evolving governance mechanisms interact with finite logistical resources. This review establishes a vital academic rationale for future research trajectories aimed at bridging this sectoral divide. It emphasizes the urgent necessity of integrated architectures that directly connect dynamic macro-governance feedback systems with the spatially constrained physical boundaries of circular logistics networks.
Downloads
References
[1] A. Lygizos, E. Kastanaki, and A. Giannis, “Designing a Reverse Logistics Network for Electric Vehicle Battery Collection, Remanufacturing, and Recycling,” Sustain., vol. 17, no. 17, Sep. 2025, doi: 10.3390/su17177643.
[2] M. A. Afroozi, M. Gramifar, B. Hazratifar, M. M. Keshvari, and S. B. Razavian, “Optimization of Lithium-Ion Battery Circular Economy in Electric Vehicles in Sustainable Supply Chain,” Batter. Energy, vol. 4, no. 2, Mar. 2025, doi: 10.1002/bte2.20240057.
[3] A. Ahmadi Nezhad, S. A. Torabi, and A. Ghasemi, “Designing A Circular Supply Chain Network for Electric Vehicle Batteries: An Improved Robust Possibilistic Programming Approach,” Int. J. Prod. Econ., vol. 298, p. 110043, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2026.110043.
[4] D. Yang, F. Ma, H. He, Y. Long, L. Jia, and W. Liu, “A Two-Stage Stochastic Model for Sustainable and Resilient Closed-Loop Supply Chain of Electric Vehicle Batteries,” Int. J. Prod. Econ., vol. 293, no. March, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2025.109878.
[5] M. Almuwallad, “AI-Driven Resilient Reverse Logistics Network for Electric Vehicle Battery Circular Economy: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach with Multi-Objective Optimization Under Disruption Uncertainty,” Energies, vol. 19, no. 3, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.3390/en19030738.
[6] S. Li and B. Xie, “A Forewarning Model for The Reverse Supply Chain of Urban End-of-Life Power Batteries Based on A Mix Method Of BWM and RBFNN,” Sci. Rep., vol. 15, no. 1, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-13573-4.
[7] S. K. & A. L. Aysan Mahboubi, Mina Kazemi Miyangaskary, “The Sustainable Shared Reverse Logistics Framework: A Blueprint for EV Battery Recovery,” Circ. Econ. Sustain., vol. 5, pp. 4155–4177 (2025), 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-025-00623-2.
[8] M. Yin, Z. Zhang, L. Wang, X. Guo, X. Qian, and M. Kamran, “Optimizing Sustainable and Resilient Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Network: Insights from Fourth-Party Logistics,” Sustain., vol. 17, no. 21, Nov. 2025, doi: 10.3390/su17219872.
[9] A. H. Azadnia, G. Onofrei, and P. Ghadimi, “Electric Vehicles Lithium-Ion Batteries Reverse Logistics Implementation Barriers Analysis: A TISM-MICMAC Approach,” Resour. Conserv. Recycl., vol. 174, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105751.
[10] D. Suman and S. Rajak, “Analysis of Barriers to The Implementation of Circular Economy in An Indian Electric Vehicle Batteries Manufacturer,” Environ. Dev. Sustain., vol. 28, p. pages 1949–1998 (2026), 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-05055-w.
[11] A. Chizaryfard, Y. Lapko, and P. Trucco, “Strategic Closed-Loop Supply Chain Configuration in The Transition Towards The Circular Economy of EV Batteries: An Evolutionary Analytical Framework,” Int. J. Logist. Manag., vol. 34, no. 7, pp. 142–176, 2023, doi: 10.1108/IJLM-06-2021-0337.
[12] C. Altuntas Vural, P. van Loon, Á. Halldórsson, J. Fransson, and F. Josefsson, “Life After Use: Circular Supply Chains for Second-Life of Electric Vehicle Batteries,” Prod. Plan. Control, vol. 36, no. 9, pp. 1229–1246, 2025, doi: 10.1080/09537287.2024.2353379.
[13] U. A. Saari, Y. Ito, Y. Kajikawa, and P. Aalto, “Transition towards a sustainable circular battery business ecosystem: quality management principles impacting the value chain,” Total Qual. Manag. Bus. Excell., pp. 1–23, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.1080/14783363.2026.2613003.
[14] A. Mahboubi, S. Keivanpour, and A. Lamghari, “Promoting Circular Systems in Electric Vehicle Batteries: A Use-Oriented Business Model with Sharing Economy and Reverse Logistics Integration,” Int. J. Green Energy, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 298–315, 2026, doi: 10.1080/15435075.2025.2553177.
[15] X. Hu et al., “LRP-Based Design of Sustainable Recycling Network for Electric Vehicle Batteries,” Processes, vol. 10, no. 2, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.3390/pr10020273.
[16] P. Rönkkö, J. Majava, T. Hyvärinen, I. Oksanen, P. Tervonen, and U. Lassi, “The Circular Economy of Electric Vehicle Batteries: A Finnish Case Study,” Environ. Syst. Decis., vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 100–113, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.1007/s10669-023-09916-z.
[17] Y. Cui et al., “Design and Assessment of Sustainable Spent Automobile Lithium-Ion Battery Industries in Japan: A System Dynamic Business Model Approach,” J. Clean. Prod., vol. 479, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.144078.
[18] M. Habiburrahman, A. Tri Setyoko, R. Nurcahyo, H. Daulay, and K. Natsuda, “Circular Economy Strategy for Waste Management Companies of Electric Vehicle Batteries in Indonesia,” Int. J. Product. Perform. Manag., vol. 74, no. 11, pp. 21–45, 2025, doi: 10.1108/IJPPM-01-2024-0015.
[19] J. Seika and M. Kubli, “The Technology Valley of Death of Circular Economy Solutions: A System Dynamics Simulation of Business Strategies for the Second-Use Battery Industry,” Bus. Strateg. Environ., 2025, doi: 10.1002/bse.70491.
[20] Z. Fan, X. Li, Q. Gao, and S. Li, “Optimizing Reverse Logistics Network for Waste Electric Vehicle Batteries: The Impact Analysis of Chinese Government Subsidies and Penalties,” Sustain., vol. 17, no. 9, May 2025, doi: 10.3390/su17093885.
[21] F. Xu and K. Tan, “Optimal Decisions of Closed-Loop Electric Vehicle Batteries Supply Chains Under Extended Producer Responsibility Policies,” Int. J. Syst. Sci. Oper. Logist., vol. 12, no. 1, 2025, doi: 10.1080/23302674.2024.2437153?scroll=top&needAccess=true.
[22] Y. Yan, J. Cao, Y. Zhou, G. Zhou, and J. Chen, “Decisions for Power Battery Closed-Loop Supply Chain: Cascade Utilization and Extended Producer Responsibility,” Ann. Oper. Res., 2024, doi: 10.1007/s10479-024-05978-7.
[23] Y. Shen, Z. Song, T. Gao, and J. Ma, “Research on Closed-Loop Supply Chain Decision Making of Power Battery Considering Subsidy Transfer under EPR System,” Sustain., vol. 14, no. 19, 2022, doi: 10.3390/su141912488.
[24] G. Li, M. Lu, S. Lai, and Y. Li, “Research on Power Battery Recycling in the Green Closed-Loop Supply Chain: An Evolutionary Game-Theoretic Analysis,” Sustain., vol. 15, no. 13, pp. 1–18, 2023, doi: 10.3390/su151310425.
[25] C. Tang, Q. Hou, and T. He, “Research on Closed-Loop Supply Chain Decision-Making of Power BatteryEechelon Utilization under The Scenario of Trade-in,” Mod. Supply Chain Res. Appl., vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 272–302, 2024, doi: 10.1108/mscra-01-2024-0003.
[26] R. Guo, Y. He, X. Tian, and Y. Li, “New Energy Vehicle Battery Recycling Strategy Considering Carbon Emotion from A Closed-Loop Supply Chain Perspective,” Sci. Rep., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 1–19, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-51294-2.
[27] M. Zhang, I. S. Chang, and J. Wu, “Sustainability Of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Industry in China: An Explorative Analysis Via an Innovative Dynamic Business Modeling for Sustainability,” Energy, vol. 340, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139140.
[28] J. Jiao, Z. Pan, and J. Li, “Effect of Carbon Trading Scheme and Technological Advancement on The Decision-Making of Power Battery Closed-Loop Supply Chain,” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 14770–14791, 2023, doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-23078-6.
[29] A. Chizaryfard, C. Nuur, and P. Trucco, “Managing Structural Tensions in The Transition to The Circular Economy: The Case of Electric Vehicle Batteries,” Circ. Econ. Sustain., vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 1157–1185, Sep. 2022, doi: 10.1007/s43615-022-00152-2.
[30] M. A. Afroozi et al., “Risk Assessment in Lithium-Ion Battery Circular Economy in Sustainable Supply Chain in Automotive Industry Using Gray Degree of Possibility in Game Theory And MCDM,” Front. Appl. Math. Stat., vol. 10, 2024, doi: 10.3389/fams.2024.1362200.
[31] A. M. Ahmadi Nezhad, S. A. Torabi, and A. Ghasemi, “Designing A Circular Supply Chain Network for Electric Vehicle Batteries: An Improved Robust Possibilistic Programming Approach,” Int. J. Prod. Econ., vol. 298, 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2026.110043.
[32] I. Masudin, D. P. Restuputri, D. I. Handayani, and E. E. Rosyida, “Integrating Efficiency and Priority in Circular Energy Supply Chains: A DEA-Informed BWM Analysis of Second-Life EV Battery Ecosystems in Emerging Economies,” Logistics, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 1–32, 2026, doi: 10.3390/logistics10050114.
[33] H. Gao, X. Han, L. Sun, and G. Cao, “Managing Strategic Interactions for a Circular Economy: An Evolutionary Game Analysis of a Dynamic
Deposit-Refund System in Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling,” Sustain., vol. 17, no. 24, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.3390/su172411196.
[34] Q. Xiao, Y. Zheng, and J. Zhang, “Recycling Mode Selection for The Reverse Supply Chain of Waste Power Batteries: An Environmental Responsibility Perspective,” J. Ind. Prod. Eng., vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 127–146, 2025, doi: 10.1080/21681015.2024.2429551.
