Recent events are challenging homeowner assumptions we will have cheap, abundant, uninterrupted electricity. Here we think of the horrid situation in Ukraine, South Africa’s notoriously unstable grid, and extreme weather across the U.S. Home inverter-battery sets are proving inadequate. But now Nissan Leaf says, why not put our used EV batteries to the test?
Pressure On to Repurpose Used EV Batteries
Let’s face the facts. Moving into a circular economy is not an option, it is a necessity. Governments understand this, although some of their citizens still deny the evidence. The motor industry may have a social conscience, but this time the pressures are real.
Electric automobile makers may soon not be able to sell their products in their most promising growth market Europe, if they do not have a plan for their spent batteries. Thousands of little cells with 80% their potential still good to go.
But Nissan is also smart, because it knows there’s a second income to harvest from its used EV batteries. That’s why it is teaming with American start-up Relyion Energy to come up with smart new ideas for its growing pile of used batteries from its electric cars.
Fresh Opportunities in Next-Gen Green Buildings
Creative architects have been pondering over ways to turn buildings into energy farms, and take them off grid. But their quest is becoming more pragmatic in the face of the current challenges we mentioned, and many more.
They need solutions now to keep lifts operating in towering buildings. But also to keep families warm in homes temporarily separated from utility grids. Why not, said someone at Nissan, or Relyion perhaps. Install a used Leaf battery in a home and give it a try?
It is quite a thought, but it seems this is a runner in theory at least. “One car battery pack would be suitable for a couple of homes,” Surinder Singh, Relyion CEO and co-founder, told Insider. “And not just in the event of an emergency either.
“It could be used for like public safety power shut offs that are unfortunately quite common in California. They can be used for daily use.” He’s right. Why would somebody prematurely kill used EV batteries, rather than utilizing them for a very long time?
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EU Battery Regulations We Could Learn
