Plugging end-of-life EV batteries into the grid could ease renewables transition
- Reference: 1674063133
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/01/18/electric_vehicle_batteries_could_help/
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Their study – which depends on new data and modeling – also found that end-of-life EV batteries could find a new purpose in helping smooth out domestic demand on an electricity grid increasingly dependent on renewable energy supply.
Chengjian Xu, PhD candidate at the Netherlands' Leiden University, and collaborators showed both in-use and end-of-vehicle-life phases with a technical capacity of 32-62 terawatt-hours by 2050. Even low participation of between 12 percent and 43 percent among the public could provide useful for short-term grid storage demand globally.
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"Short-term grid storage demand could be met as early as 2030 across most regions. Our estimates are generally conservative and offer a lower bound of future opportunities," the paper, published in Nature Communications this week, states.
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While renewable energy is a growing part of grid supply, it can be variable, particularly in the case of wind and solar. While there are options to mitigate the problem, "demand-side management is also vital in shifting and flattening peak demand," the paper said.
EV batteries can be used while in the vehicle via vehicle-to-grid technology, or after the end of vehicle life, the researchers argued.
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"When the remaining battery capacity drops to between 70-80 percent of the original capacity, batteries generally become unsuitable for use in EVs. However, these batteries at vehicle end of life may still have years of useful life in less demanding stationary energy storage applications and represent substantial value to the grid," the study said.
[5]Wyoming's would-be ban on sale of electric vehicles veers off road
[6]Fat EVs may cause 'more death on our roads' – watchdog
[7]BMW updates 90% of EVs sold in the US over power software bug
[8]Chinese Tesla owners protest another round of price cuts
As well as smoothing out demand, plugging EV batteries into the grid could also help reduce the capital costs and material-related emissions associated with additional storage, the researchers pointed out.
Although the potential of EV batteries to aid grid storage has been studied before, earlier research rarely looked at battery degradation and the impact of battery chemistry. Driving intensity by vehicle type in different countries and likely consumer participation were also left unexamined.
Equipped with data on these topics and using three new data models, the researchers said they found EV batteries could promote electricity grid stability via storage solutions from vehicle-to-grid and second-use applications.
"Within this model framework, this study provides a more complete understanding of the energy storage capacity available from EV batteries over time in real-world conditions and use. Results reveal a substantial opportunity for EV battery storage to support the stability and flexibility of renewable energy transition, even under modest consumer participation rates. To harness this opportunity, regulations and innovative business models will be needed to incentivize participation," the study said.
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The analysis of extending the life and value of EV batteries will come as little comfort to UK workers laid off from battery startup Britishvolt, which [10]collapsed into administration this week. Although the company had planned to build a giant factory – and create about 3,000 skilled jobs – to make electric car batteries in Blyth, Northumberland, it failed to become profitable and suffered a terminal cash shortage. ®
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[5] https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/17/wyoming_electric_vehicles_ban/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/12/ev_weight_ntsb_death/
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[10] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64303149
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
But they need recycling
Otherwise there won't be enough new batteries for your over sized, over weight resource stuffed new bloater EV.
Re: But they need recycling
Tesla bloated whale EV model 3 weighs about the same as the BMW svelte lightweight 3 series .
Re: But they need recycling
I'd love to see a huge increase in lightweight, fully enclosed microcars, sadly moonscape-like cratered state of our British roads, make wasteful bloated EVs sporting suspension with wide travel, compelling purchases for many.
Old lithium ion batteries differ in charged voltage, often widely - if the battery management systems of large groups of cells aren't very clever in how they charge, discharge and utilise individual cells, they'd create big unstoppable fires which burn uncontrollably for days... which for me begs the question, why can't very smart BMSs be created to utilise these old batteries in less demanding EVs, such as electric bicycles? 15A @36V is sufficient for say, a 250W Bafang BBS01B motor.
So there's a simple solution
Don't hook up old cells to un-clever battery management systems.
As for why not reuse them in electric bicycles, that's because weight matters in a bicycle and using cells that are only 60% working or whatever is a lot of wasted weight. Most electric bicycles are still pedal powered at least some of the time by their owners, you might need to lift them up steps etc. and they already suffer a weight penalty. Why add to it?
if
My experience with mobile phones makes me suspect that discharge cycles reduce not only the capacity but also the efficiency of lithium batteries.
Feel free to cite contrary evidence.
-A.
Plugging in all EV batteries is going to be the best approach. Not only do you get storage but you energy transport for free too.