As market penetration of electric commercial vehicles rises, the after-sales sector gains importance. Ensuring long-term spare parts availability poses significant challenges for high-voltage battery systems. Rapid innovation cycles lead to the discontinuation of battery cells and modules, while calendar aging and self-discharge hinder long-term serviceability. Simultaneously, limited standardization and cross-generational compatibility restrict component interchangeability. These challenges highlight the need for dedicated spare parts concepts, where conventional strategies such as final stockpiling are complemented by circular approaches using returned batteries from the field. Planning such strategies is complex due to uncertain return flows, varying states of health, and the diversity of battery variants. Despite growing relevance, decision support tools to evaluate circular spare parts strategies remain scarce. This study presents a conceptual model for the simulation-based decision support in after-sales planning of high-voltage batteries as spare parts. The model supports strategic decisions on circular spare parts supply systems for planners in original equipment manufacturers by considering aspects such as the prioritization of R-strategies, estimation of future spare parts demand, and dimensioning of required storage capacities. The conceptual model is prototypically implemented as a basis for assessing different supply strategies under uncertainty, thereby contributing to more sustainable after-sales management in the commercial vehicle electrification.
Hermsen et al. (Thu,) studied this question.