New Photo voltaic Energy & Power Storage System Makes use of Former Electrical Automobile Batteries

One of many widespread myths about electrical automobile batteries is that they’re laborious to recycle when they’re not getting used or can’t be utilized in a automobile. This notion just isn’t true, and on the contrary, some former electrical automobile batteries are getting used for stationary power storage initiatives. Having a second life after EV use extends the utility of such batteries, that means they will serve two functions and never only one.

California-based B2U Storage Options simply introduced it has made SEPV Cuyama, a solar energy and power storage set up utilizing second-life EV batteries, operational in New Cuyama, Santa Barbara County, CA. Freeman Corridor, co-founder and CEO of B2U Storage Options, answered some questions concerning the undertaking for CleanTechnica.

Normally once I see an power storage capability it’s written as MW/MWh. Is that this undertaking 1MW/6MWh?

Interconnection capability is 3.0 MW. The Cuyama hybrid system at preliminary business operation may have 6 MWh of storage capability increasing to 12 MWh by finish of yr. The hybrid system has 1.56 MW PV technology and can complement with grid charging as wanted.

Which Honda automobiles had been used to supply the batteries?

The Cuyama web site is deploying batteries from the Honda Readability BEV.

How did you discover the Hondas?

We collaborate with the unique tools producer (OEM) on to supply the batteries. For the Cuyama undertaking we’re working instantly with Honda to supply the Readability BEV batteries.

If you get second life batteries, what’s the course of to begin working with them?

B2U’s EPS know-how is ready to deploy EV batteries of their authentic pack casing using the pack’s native battery administration system (BMS) software program, which eliminates repurposing prices. Within the case of the battery cupboards on the Cuyama undertaking, we deploy 24 Honda Readability EV batteries per cupboard.

Do you check after which pull them out of the automobiles and recondition after which transport them to the positioning?

We assemble and check the EPS cupboards at our hub in Lancaster, CA, transport the pre-tested cupboards to the undertaking web site.

Do they have to be licensed for stationary power use and security?

Allowing authorities require power storage methods to realize UL certification.

The related UL check is UL9540 for power storage methods. B2U performs all crucial testing to realize UL9540 certification and to fulfill all allowing necessities for our initiatives.

What’s the price to purchase a used EV battery pack for a second-life stationary storage undertaking?

There may be not but a longtime market and clear market value for promoting used EV batteries. Pricing varies significantly. Reusing EV batteries in massive scale stationary storage generates substantial worth, and due to this fact corporations like B2U pays a major premium over the recycling worth. After using the residual worth, B2U and different corporations that reuse EV batteries work with recyclers and OEMs to make sure all batteries are recycled.

Does it price much less to purchase former EV batteries than buying model new batteries?

Sure.

How simple or tough is it so as to add extra used EV batteries to a stationary power storage undertaking?

It’s easy, since our know-how permits for the batteries to be deployed in ‘Plug and Play’ style of their authentic pack casing. Swapping out a battery from B2U’s EPS cupboard takes lower than quarter-hour.

Whether it is expanded, which different automobile producers will you harvest batteries from?

Along with Honda batteries, B2U has efficiently deployed Nissan Leaf, Chevy Bolt, Tesla Mannequin 3, and Ford Focus batteries. That is over 80% of right now’s EV market. We’re working with Volvo and BYD and different OEMs to deploy further battery varieties as we proceed to increase the variety of batteries that our EPS know-how helps.

What was the general price of the solar energy and power storage system?

B2U deploys power storage methods (ESS) for about half the price of new ESS.

When there may be enough daylight how lengthy does it take to cost the battery system?

On the Cuyama web site the place we’ve deployed a hybrid system that expenses from onsite photo voltaic, supplementing when wanted with grid charging, the photo voltaic useful resource is powerful. Over the course of a yr, a single MW of PV on a single axis tracker can generate ~2,400 MWh of power. In summer time months, a single MW of PV can generate 10 MWh. The 12 MWh of battery storage can reliably be charged by the 1.56 MW of onsite PV. When wanted, the system can complement with grid charging.