Developing a holistic circular business model framework for the EV battery closed-loop supply chain: A data-driven approach

The transition toward circularity in the electric vehicle batteries (EVBs) sector demands circular business models that address environmental, economic, and regulatory challenges. Grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) and industrial ecology (IE) perspectives, this study develops a data-driven framework to map circular business models (CBMs) across the EVBs' closed-loop supply chain (CLSC). The framework is developed by identifying CBMs from existing academic literature and analysing industry practices through press releases, resulting in a detailed map of value creation across the EVBs' lifecycle. A hybrid methodology combining topic modelling and literature synthesis was employed, using data from over 1800 industry press releases and academic databases. The findings reveal nine CBMs in literature and industry: battery leasing, charging as a service, remanufacturing, repurposing, recycling, repairing, refurbishing, EV sharing, and technology-led models, with notable applications across the EVBs’ CLSC. This study makes significant theoretical and practical contributions by integrating CBMs within an EVB CLSC framework, thus highlighting value creation, value delivery, and value capture mechanisms across phases from production to second-life applications. The findings offer strategic insights for industry practitioners and policymakers, supporting sustainable EVB lifecycles and advancing circularity objectives. This framework provides a roadmap for industry implementation and informs broader sustainable practices in resource-intensive sectors.