German firm gives ‘second life’ to used EV batteries

A German company is putting used electric vehicle batteries to new use by stacking them into fridge-size units that homes and businesses can use to store their excess solar and wind energy. This week, the company Voltfang – which means ”catching volts” – opened its first industrial site in Aachen, near the Belgian and Dutch borders. With around 100 staff, Voltfang says it is the biggest facility of its kind in Europe in the budding sector of refurbishing lithium-ion batteries.

Inside the site, technicians receive used EV batteries and test them to determine their remaining lifespans. Those still found to be in good condition are reconditioned for their ”second life” and fitted inside cabinets the size of large refrigerators – effectively huge power banks for excess electricity.

For one thing, the supply of used EV batteries is still small, given that most vehicles have been on the road for only a few years. Also, new batteries, produced mainly in China, are becoming more efficient and less expensive, making it harder to compete against them with refurbished models.

Source: Euractiv