Car makers Nissan and Volvo have introduced solutions for repurposing lithium-ion batteries into second lives as energy storage systems, together with specialised partners.
Nissan Leaf is one of the most popular first-generation electric vehicles (EVs). Californian startup company Smartville has developed a system for utilising outranged EV batteries in an ESS. Their first customer is Nissan North America. Smartville will install a series 360 energy storage at Nissan’s headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee.
“Our EV battery repurposing and reuse platform is a key link to a lithium battery circular economy. It can potentially bring a multitude of benefits to both transportation and energy storage sectors. We’ve developed the technologies, industry relationships and systems needed to deliver a sustainable repurposing solution to the US market,” said Smartville co-founder and CEO Antoni Tong.
The solution enables use of many different makes and models of EV batteries including Tesla battery packs. Smartville 360 is scalable and offers between 100 kW and 100 MW+ power with a discharge capacity from 2 to 10+ hours.
Also, Volvo has investigated the second life of EV batteries. Volvo Energy, a subsidiary of the Swedish Volvo Group, last year announced a cooperation agreement and part ownership with the British company Connected Energy. The ambition is to harness the remaining 80% capacity of used EV batteries and to use them in stationary energy storages.
Development of the first prototype system may begin later this year. The containerised systems will feature batteries from Volvo electric buses, trucks and machines. Elisabeth Larsson, Senior Vice President Sales & Services from Volvo Energy said: “The Volvo Group is driven by ensuring that every battery that powers our vehicles is used to its full potential, before being recycled. Repurposing the batteries in line with circular economy principles is good for the environment, good for the consumer, and good for the Volvo Group.”
