JLR to repurpose car batteries for grid energy storage

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【Summary】Jaguar Land Rover plans to reuse old car batteries to store excess energy from the national grid and release it during peak times. The company aims to create one of the largest energy storage systems in the UK, with the capacity to power 750 homes for a day. The batteries will be stored in containers in a renewable energy park, with potential for expansion in the future.

FutureCar Staff Aug 30, 2023 4:47 PM PT

JLR to repurpose car batteries for grid energy storage

The UK's largest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has unveiled plans to repurpose old car batteries for energy storage purposes. This initiative aims to create one of the largest energy storage systems in the country, allowing excess power to be stored during off-peak times and released back into the grid when needed.

The battery scheme by JLR is expected to provide enough energy to power 750 homes for a day, equivalent to 7.5 megawatt hours, by the end of this year. The company will utilize used electric car batteries that no longer meet the stringent requirements of electric vehicles but still have a residual capacity of 70% to 80%.

The batteries will be stored in containers located at the Chelveston renewable energy park in Northamptonshire. JLR also plans to expand the program in the future by housing additional used batteries from vehicles in more containers.

Furthermore, JLR believes that the use of used batteries for energy storage can be further extended in the coming years. According to a 2019 McKinsey report, the global value of used battery supply for energy storage could exceed $30 billion (£23.5 billion) by 2030, with an estimated annual energy storage capacity of over 200 gigawatt-hours.

Energy storage systems like this one are crucial for addressing the problem of renewable electricity generated by sources such as wind farms during periods of low demand or grid constraints. By repurposing old car batteries, JLR demonstrates that these batteries can have a second life even after they are no longer suitable for use in electric vehicles.

Colin Walker, the head of transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, highlighted the environmental benefits of recycling EV batteries, stating that most of the metals in these batteries can be recycled. In contrast, a petrol car consumes a significant amount of fuel throughout its lifespan.