One of the hallmarks of a maturing industry is the rise of a ‘second hand market’ for the product or portions thereof.
Take vehicles for instance – it is not uncommon for vehicles to change hands down to five owners in the second hand market and then to go on to scrap yards or scrap metal merchants for further utilisation.
With the rise of electric vehicles the concern around batteries and their disposal is one of the barriers to purchase most often thrown up by new entrants to the market.
High-voltage batteries in electric cars are expensive and contain valuable raw materials – as a result, they are designed for a very long lifetime. After many years of service, however, they can lose a proportion of their performance capability – currently estimated at around 25%. A similar decline in battery performance from a smartphone or tablet would barely register with most users, but an electric car’s batteries have to be replaced when they’re past their best. So what to do with the raw materials, which may now be unusable for an electric car but remain of significant value?
EV carmaker, Porsche, has taken steps to extend the life of these ‘used’ batteries and teamed up with a Swedish Company, Box of Energy, to develop a solution that involves recommissioning used batteries as energy storage systems.
Based in Sweden Box of Energy develops and manufactures smart energy storage systems that create a sustainable and profitable future. The company was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2014 with the concept of using 2nd life electric car batteries to create a product that covers all needs for energy storage. Gothenburg, Sweden and Port Elizabeth are in a ‘sister city relationship dating back to 1998. The partnership goal is to foster development of common fields of interest such as solid waste management, public libraries, sport and tourism.
Food for thought: Box of Energy was established to utilise 2nd life batteries in 2014 – a year when South Africa had less than 50 EV’s on the roads. Isn’t it time to play catchup South Africa?
You can help the quiet revolution along by installing an EV Charging station outside your Guest House, Hotel, Coffee Shop, Restaurant, Shopping Centre or in your forecourt. Contact Straton Electrical for EV Charging Station options.
Read More articles about EV’s and Renewable Energy here: Join the Quiet Revolution and here: MyNMB.
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Alan Straton
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