2023-12-03 15:08:26
At a time when there is an increasing number of electric vehicles on the roads, car manufacturers have begun to consider a second use for batteries, with the aim of reducing their carbon footprint.
In recent years, electric car sales have increased around the world. The lifespan of the batteries used in these cars is estimated at about 10 years, while about 4 million electric cars are expected to be withdrawn from the market in 2030, according to a study conducted by Boston Consulting Group.
The batteries remain fit for other uses, while their capacity still reaches between 70 and 80%. But which batteries are intended in this case?
Batteries could allow for the regulation of the electricity grid, at a time when solar and wind energy are developing, which are renewable energy sources that are not always available.
Since 2018, the German company BMW has been using batteries recovered from its old A3 electric cars, which were put on the market in 2012, to store the energy produced by four wind turbines in Leipzig (eastern Germany) and then pump it into the public electricity grid.
The director of this facility, Holger Reiche, explained to Agence France-Presse that the goal is to maintain the stability of the public network and deal with demand when electricity consumption is at its peak.
Renault is following suit, which has large quantities of batteries that would ensure this process at its sites in Douai (northern France) and Flannes near Paris, according to what Jean-Denis, an expert in the circular economy at the French car manufacturer, told Agence France-Presse. Cor.
As for Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, it uses used lithium-ion batteries in its fast charging stations that are powered by solar panels.
Volkswagen entered the electricity market within the framework of a pilot project. A spokeswoman for the group says: It is important to gain experience in managing stationary battery storage, with the goal of developing an important and profitable business in the long term.
Energy storage can be used using used batteries on a smaller scale, instead of using diesel or gasoline generators. Renault provides used batteries to the German startup Beatrice, which turns them into a mobile storage system, on a wheeled cart, that can be used on construction sites or during festivals, according to Jean-Denis Coeur.
In another sector, used batteries are used to convert boats or tourist boats into electric, similar to the “Bateaux Mouches” boats in Paris.
Second use
Damien Pierre Sinflo, who is responsible for these issues at the French company Stellantis, says: “The matter is not settled; Rather, there are technical and economic challenges that must be faced.”
In the city of Rennes, western France, changes are being introduced to about 20 batteries at the Stellantis factory, as part of a pilot project. The work done is learning how to recover items safely and know the condition of the battery before reusing it.
The process is not just about resolving technical issues; Groups involved in battery reuse consider the process to be profitable.
Another competitive issue is recycling. “The more difficult the regulations are regarding the recycled materials that will be used in new batteries, the greater the need for these recycled materials,” says Eric Kerstetter of Roland Bergé, which could lead to the dispensation of the second use of batteries.
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