A new life for automotive batteries: extend their use with a third phase of sustainable operation.

A study on the use of electric vehicle batteries in storage, where progressive discharge poses a challenge. As the electric vehicle market expands in France and Europe, we are exploring solutions to prevent the degradation of these batteries, maximizing their potential for alternative uses, while supporting the circular economy and reducing electronic waste.

IN PROGRESSSUSTAINABILITY

Thomas VIGIER

7/4/20231 min read

Context:

Sales of electric vehicles in Europe rose by over 20% in 2024 compared with the previous year, reaching almost 3.2 million units. However, the phasing-out of subsidies in some countries, notably Germany, has slowed sales growth, leading to a significant build-up of inventories for certain models. This imbalance between supply and demand, amplified by increased competition and fluctuating raw material prices, creates major challenges for automakers.

Recent studies show that the natural discharge (or calendar aging) of lithium-ion batteries, when vehicles are in storage, can cause significant degradation, often more severe than regular charge and discharge cycles. Stored batteries are subject to factors such as temperature fluctuations, self-discharge, and internal chemical reactions, accelerating capacity loss and increasing internal resistance. These effects are particularly pronounced when batteries are stored in sub-optimal conditions.

Therefore, it is crucial for manufacturers to proactively manage their inventories to minimize the natural degradation of lithium-ion batteries, a situation which can be more damaging when they are simply stored rather than actively used.

Our Study/Support:

At Greentrack Genius, we have already identified application cases that can extend the life of batteries before their use in vehicles. We firmly believe that with current technologies and by overcoming certain logistical challenges, it is possible to increase the number of lifetimes of an automotive battery to four.

Integrating this fourth life, before vehicle use, would represent a world first in the industry. This would imply the implementation of a business model 100% oriented toward the circular economy for manufacturers, thus strengthening their commitment to sustainability and innovation.

Partners:

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