Jaguar Land Rover repurposes car batteries for grid energy storage

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【Summary】Jaguar Land Rover plans to repurpose old car batteries to store excess energy that cannot be used by the national grid. The company aims to create one of the largest energy storage systems in the UK, supplying enough batteries to power 750 homes for a day. These batteries, which still have residual capacity of 70-80%, will be stored in containers at a renewable energy park.

FutureCar Staff Aug 31, 2023 7:02 AM PT

Jaguar Land Rover repurposes car batteries for grid energy storage

The UK's largest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has revealed plans to repurpose old car batteries for energy storage. This initiative aims to create one of the largest energy storage systems in the country. The batteries will be used to store excess power during off-peak times, when the supply of electricity exceeds demand. The stored energy can then be released back into the grid during peak times.

JLR's battery scheme aims to provide enough batteries to power 750 homes for a day, equivalent to 7.5 megawatt hours of energy, by the end of this year. The company highlights that electric car batteries can be reused due to their high standards, even after they fall below the stringent requirements of an electric vehicle. Typically, these batteries retain 70% to 80% of their residual capacity.

The used batteries will be stored in containers located at the Chelveston renewable energy park in Northamptonshire. JLR also mentions the potential for future expansion of the program, with the ability to house additional used batteries in more containers. The company believes that there is even further potential for utilizing used batteries in the years to come.

According to a 2019 McKinsey report, the supply of used batteries for energy storage could exceed 200 gigawatt-hours per year by 2030, creating a global value of over $30 billion (£23.5 billion). Energy storage is considered a solution to the challenge of renewable electricity being generated but not being efficiently utilized due to grid constraints.

This announcement highlights the longevity of electric vehicle batteries, as they can continue to serve a purpose even after their use in cars. Colin Walker, the head of transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, emphasizes that most of the metals in EV batteries can be recycled, resulting in minimal waste. In comparison, a petrol car irretrievably burns 17,000 liters of fuel by the end of its life.