NREL: EV Battery Second Use Can Improve Grid Stability - CleanTechnica
Consumer technology is going to exist indefinitely, perhaps for as long as the human species exists. At CleanTechnica, we try to feature consumer technologies that help to reduce global warming pollution and other types of pollution. Battery second use is just another term for battery repurposing. NREL conducted a study on the viability of reusing discarded electric vehicle batteries, and found that they still have roughly 70% of their original capacity at the end of their “usable” live in a vehicle. If an electric vehicle’s original range is 73 miles (for example, a Nissan Leaf), a 30% decline would leave the owner with only 51 miles per charge, aggravating range anxiety. According to Green Car Congress :. Most batteries will become available for second use at the end of the expected PEV service life of approximately 15 years. NREL studies show that these batteries—with as much as 70% of their initial capacity—potentially can continue to operate for another 10 years in second use as energy storage for utilities, translating into a total service life of up to 25 years. The 25-year estimate is based on a simulation of 15 years of automotive service, then another 10 years in second use with a daily 50% depth of discharge duty cycle using NREL’s battery degradation life model. This helps to explain why people would discard their batteries even if they still have 70% of their capacity. Source: cleantechnica.com
