ZEvRA event – Breaking Down the Barriers Toward a Circular Automotive Industry
Breaking Down the Barriers Toward a Circular Automotive Industry
27th November 2025, 8:45–16:00h CET | Eurecat Cerdanyola (Parc Tecnològic del Vallès; Av. Universitat Autònoma, 23, Cerdanyola del Vallès)
Hybrid event (in person and online streaming)
Join the event “Breaking Barriers Towards a Circular Automotive Industry”, organized by Eurecat within the framework of the European project ZEvRA.
This first annual conference of the project will bring together representatives from the automotive industry, technology centres, universities, and public administrations with the aim of advancing towards more circular, sustainable, and competitive electric mobility.
The ZEvRA project, funded by Horizon Europe, promotes circularity in the light electric vehicle sector, addressing the entire life cycle—from material supply to end-of-life processes.
The event will provide a space for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration to exchange progress, methodologies, and experiences, as well as to discuss the main technical, regulatory, and economic barriers that must be overcome to achieve a fully circular automotive industry.
PROGRAM
8:45 – 9:15
Registration and welcome coffee
9:15 – 9:30
Host welcome note
9:30 – 10:00
From Ambition to Action: Circularity as the Engine of Europe’s Zero-Emission EV Future
Thomas Hipke (Fraunhofer)
10:00 – 10:30
Driving Innovation in Zero-Emission Vehicle Readiness: The OEM Perspective
Matthias Klaus Reichelt (SKODA)
10:30 – 10:45
Coffee break
10:45 – 11:30
Applying the 9Rs: Barriers and Breakthroughs in Circular EV Design
Moderators: Stefan Caba (EDAG)
Panelists:
- Violeta Vargas (EUT)
- Chrabák Péter (BZN)
- Gianluigi Creonti (CROSS FIRE SRL)
- Manuel Molina (TOYOTA)
- Alberto Gómez (FICOSA)
11:30 – 12:30
Breaking Down the Barriers: Circularity Challenges in the Automotive Industry
Moderators: Engy Ghoniem (UNN), Richard Fu (UNN)
Panelists:
- Katharina Schoeps (RKW)
- Tony Schuetze (RKW)
- Kirsten Lange (APRA)
- Davar Hemyari (Benteler / NTNU)
- Stefan Caba (EDAG)
- Dennis Lauterbach (Volkswagen Group Innovation)
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 14:45
IN PERSON WORKSHOP: How to Assess Circularity Across the EV Value Chain – Interactive session with live demo and group feedback
Violeta Vargas (EUT), David Sánchez (EUT)
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Lightweight Design by recycling-based Aluminum Foam
Christian Hannemann (FRA)
14:45 – 15:00
Coffee Break
15:00 – 15:45
Innovation Forum – From Concept to Market: Circular Case Studies and Skills for the Future EV Workforce
Moderators: Christian Hannemann (FRA), Davar Hemyari (Benteler / NTNU)
- Katharina Schoeps (RKW)
- Tony Schuetze (RKW)
- Kirsten Lange (APRA)
- Thierry Renault (COMPOSITEC)
