Thursday 17 March 2022
Jaguar Land Rover charges ahead to give second life to old EV batteries
Jaguar Land Rover is giving a second life to electric vehicle (EV) batteries by using them for portable EV charging.
It has partnered with Pramac to develop a portable zero-emission energy storage unit, called the Off Grid Battery Energy Storage System, which features lithium-ion cells from Jaguar's I-PACE batteries taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles.
The flagship system has a capacity of up to 125kWh, more than enough to fully charge Jaguar's all-electric I-PACE SUV or power a regular family's home for a week.
The unit, charged with solar panels and available for commercial hire, is a self-contained solution that consists of a battery system linked to a bi-directional converter and associated control management systems.
Pramac directly reuses up to 85% of the vehicle battery supplied by Jaguar Land Rover within the storage unit, including modules and wiring, whilst the remaining materials are recycled back into the supply chain.
The units are fitted with Type 2 EV charge connections with dynamic control and rated at up to 22kW to enable EV charging.
As part of its commitment to achieve net zero status by 2039, the company plans to launch programmes that deliver second life and beyond uses for its EV batteries.
François Dossa, Executive Director for Strategy & Sustainability, Jaguar Land Rover said: “The transition to an electric future, with Jaguar becoming all-electric from 2025 and the first all-electric Land Rover model expected in 2024, is integral to our sustainability strategy through the development of a comprehensive EV ecosystem from batteries to charging. This includes our effort to enable technical and business innovations for battery reuse for second life applications.
“Our collaboration with Pramac is a proof point in such direction, showing how it’s possible to supply zero-emission power through the combination of renewables and second life batteries. Through their testing at Valencia, the Jaguar TCS Racing team have shown how we can inspire the whole ecosystem to continue to explore synergies and validate viable solutions for clean energy.”
