Actually, when electric vehicle batteries reach the end of their lifespan, they don’t necessarily have to be immediately recycled. If they are not completely worn out, they can be repurposed for other applications, such as stationary energy storage systems. Automakers are launching “Second Chance” projects for batteries, giving these devices a new lease on life. Porsche did exactly that, and now the Taycan batteries are being used as energy storage systems. So why is this important? Here are the details…
Porsche Taycan Batteries Repurposed as Energy Storage Systems
Porsche has set an example by giving a second chance to electric vehicle batteries. The company’s Environmental and Energy Management unit created an energy storage system for its Leipzig factory using batteries from the Taycan model.
This project, carried out in collaboration with Zwickau University, aims to gather insights that could be used to implement similar systems in other Porsche facilities in the future. The goal is to repurpose batteries from test vehicles, giving them a second life before they undergo final recycling.
Porsche has dismissed its CEO of Porsche China due to declining sales figures. Alexander Pollich has been appointed as his replacement.
Porsche has stated that the results of this initial project could be replicated in other factories. This approach is seen as an effective way to optimize the use of energy produced by photovoltaic systems and to enhance the energy independence of the factories.
The energy storage system created from Taycan batteries consists of 4,400 battery modules. It has a total power capacity of 5 megawatts and an energy content of 10 megawatt-hours. The storage system supplies electricity during peak energy demand periods, partially utilizing the power generated by the factory’s photovoltaic system.
It may seem surprising that Porsche used batteries from the Taycan model, which was launched in 2019, for this system. However, the automaker clarified that the batteries were taken from test vehicles. The entire storage system is designed for a lifespan of over ten years, with individual battery modules being replaceable as needed.
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