Electric vehicles firms target wind power second life for old batteries

According to Sunday Times reports, Nissan is investigating pooling large numbers of old electric car batteries for use by wind energy developers, who could use the technology to help cope with unreliable energy supplies.

Last October the company launched the 4R initiative with Sumitomo Corporation, detailing how it planes to ‘Reuse, Resell, Refabricate and Recycle ‘ old batteries and is currently exploring how batteries could find a new life in the renewable sector.

The performance of electric car batteries deteriorate over time, but Nissan expects that lithium-ion batteries it plans to use will retain up to 80 per cent of their residual capacity even after they are no longer useful for electric vehicles.

Speaking to BusinessGreen.com, a spokeswoman for the company downplayed suggestions in the Sunday Times that old batteries could soon be used by wind farm operators, revealing that the company has not yet held formal discussions with any wind farm developers.

However, she confirmed that the company was looking closely at the idea and was considering a business model for its soon-to-be-launched Nissan Leaf electric car that would see the firm lease out its electric batteries to motorists – ensuring that it retains ownership of the batteries.

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