Kia Europe and the Deutsche Bahn startup encore are partnering on reusing electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the form of scalable storage systems.
The EV battery packs are received by encore and are then dismantled to battery module level and subjected to detailed diagnostic testing. Suitable modules are then either used for new battery energy storage systems or recycled depending on their remaining capacity.
As a prototype, a battery storage facility has been implemented at EUREF-Campus innovation district in Berlin, made entirely from reused Kia Soul EV battery modules.
“With our success in the electrification of Kia models, we also take responsibility for the batteries beyond their lifetime in the car,” asserts Jason Jeong, President at Kia Europe.
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“The pioneering partnership between Kia and encore | DB shows that we regard batteries as a valuable resource in terms of a sustainable circular economy.”
Kia claims a ‘cradle to cradle’ approach to its vehicle development, with consideration for end-of-life processes and resource regeneration, which in turn has led to the seeking of alternatives to the recycling of used EV batteries in favour of second life projects.
encore already operates a battery take-back service across Europe for the creation of second life battery energy storage systems, with lithium-ion battery transporter DellCon as the dismantling partner, but this is the first partnership with an EV provider.
The used Kia Soul EV battery packs were collected from Kia dealers.
The prototype is a 72kWh system, which is functioning as part of inno2grid’s EUREF-Campus micro smart grid.
The unit is comprised of 24 battery modules in total arranged over three racks, with each module made up of 14 double cells. A novel power conversion system with an integrated battery management system specifically developed by STABL Energy compensates for the varying states of health between the battery modules by performing passive or active voltage balancing where needed.
The prototype unit is intended to support ‘timeshifting’ and other applications across the zero emission mobility base of inno2grid – a joint venture of DB E.C.O. Group and Schneider Electric – at the EUREF-Campus. One of the first was for EV charging, with the first vehicle to plug a Kia e-Niro.
