To support the efforts of Group Renault’s extension of EV batteries’ life cycle, the two first-in-the-world quick-charge stations were built in Belgium and Germany, envisioned to increase charging options for electronic vehicles in locations where installation of high power connection to grids is highly expensive.
The technology is part of the E-STOR energy storage program of UK-based Connected Energy group.
“Electric vehicle batteries generally have a service life of eight to ten years. However, they still have substantial capacity for further use in stationary applications, thus extending their life before recycling. It is particularly to optimize this complete life cycle that Renault has set up the rental of the battery with its customers of electric vehicles,” said Matthew Lumsden, Managing Director of Connected Energy in a press release.
As the leader and pioneer of electric vehicles in Europe, Group Renault chose to focus on solutions to lengthen a battery’s life cycle before it becomes recycled, an effort that is not done by other electric car companies, who typically sell the car and battery together. The second-life-battery approach of Renault group also benefits individual homes and industrial sites that are in need of low-cost rechargeable batteries.
“With the E-STOR system, the batteries are recharged at low power, and the stored energy is then released at high power. Economical and simple to install, E-STOR will contribute to the development of a network of quick-charging stations in Europe”, explains Lumsden.
He further discussed that the stations are designed to allow more sustainable low-cost electric vehicle charging. Connected Energy envisions a wide-scale roll out of this technology in both UK and Europe in the coming months.
