General Motors has signed a memorandum of understanding with the ABB Group to explore opportunities for the reuse of Chevrolet Volt batteries packs after their vehicular lifetimes have ended.
The Chevrolet Volt’s 16 kwh lithium-ion battery pack has a warranty of 8 years/100,000 miles during which time 40 miles of EV driving range can be maintained. This is the longest most comprehensive warranty of it’s kind in the automotive industry and is fully transferable between owners. The warranty includes all 161 part of the battery, 95% of which were designed and engineered by GM. It also includes the thermal management, charging system, and electric drive components
It is known that the Volt’s battery will still have very significant energy storage capacity after the warranty period has ended. The new partnership with ABB is looking at ways to best utilize that energy storage capacity. “The Volt’s battery will have significant capacity to store electrical energy, even after its automotive life,” said Micky Bly, GM Executive Director of Electrical Systems, Hybrids, Electric Vehicles and Batteries. “That’s why we’re joining forces with ABB to find ways to enable the Volt batteries to provide environmental benefits that stretch far beyond the highway.”
ABB is the world’s largest supplier of power grid systems and a leading power and automation technology provider. Their technologies allow utilities and industry to improve performance, while at the same time reducing their environmental impact. “Our relationship with ABB will help develop solutions that optimize the full lifecycle of the Volt battery,” said Bly.
“Future smart grids will incorporate a larger proportion of renewable energy sources and will need to supply a vast e-mobility infrastructure – both of which require a wide range of energy storage solutions,” said Bazmi Husain, head of ABB’s smart grids initiative. “We are excited to explore the possibility of employing electric car batteries in a second use that could help build needed storage capacity and provide far-reaching economic and environmental benefits.”
The joint venture will explore the utilization of used Volt packs in the following ways:
- Renewable Energy Storage: Power generated by wind and the sun can be stored in Volt battery systems and used when demand warrants.
- Grid Load Management: Utilities will be able to use the Volt batteries to store electricity generated during off-peak periods to supplement demand during high-peak operation. This will help utilities to better manage the grid, improving reliability and efficiency.
- Back-up Power Supplies for Communities: Volt battery systems can store electricity that can be used by communities during power outages caused by storms or other natural disasters.
- Time of Use Management: Industrial customers can store off-peak, lower-priced electrical power in Volt batteries for use during peak demand time of day for cost savings.
“Chevrolet and GM are committed to assuring that our vehicles minimize their impact on the environment,” Bly said. “Our focus on finding additional applications for the Volt’s batteries after their vehicle use extends our commitment to unprecedented levels.”
Source (GM)
