Jaguar has made an agreement to recycle the batteries of its I-Pace electric SUV. The project will be used to create energy storage units for fixed installations.
Jaguar has announced the launch of its new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This is a project that the brand is carrying out jointly with the renewable energy firm Wykes Engineering.
This system will help to store energy independently, in connection with wind turbines or solar farms. The BESS will be able to store energy in parallel with the network, in order to limit losses. Thus, it will redistribute it during peak demand, in particular with the advent of the electric vehicle.
For the moment, these are batteries from prototypes and development vehicles. All are I-Pace, the electric SUV that Jaguar will discontinue next year. From 2025, Jaguar will move upmarket with 100% electric cars.
With this system, Jaguar promises to be able to power 250 homes for a full day. The JLR group to which the manufacturer belongs will develop the system in the coming months. By the end of the year, it should reach the supply capacity for 750 homes for one day.
“Our approach to sustainability covers the entire value chain of our vehicles, including the circularity of electric vehicle batteries”said François Dossa, executive director of strategy and sustainable development at JLR.
“Our electric vehicle batteries are designed to the highest standards. This innovative project, in collaboration with Wykes Engineering, proves that they can be safely reused for applications in the energy sector to increase the possibilities of renewable energy. »
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A “total adoption” of circularity
When a battery is unable to power an electric car, it is not out of order. Indeed, it remains at this time up to 80% of its capacity. But that’s too little for an active system like a car.
On the other hand, a passive device such as solar panels can benefit from it. This is why François Dossa sees in BESS the opportunity to create a circular economy.
“The use of the 70 to 80% residual capacity of electric vehicle batteries, before their recycling, demonstrates the total adoption of the principles of circularity. »
“Working with leading partners, we are building a complete ecosystem for electric vehicles, from batteries to charging, to support our net zero transformation. »
This is also the opinion of Reuben Chorley, director of sustainability within industrial operations. According to him, this project is important in the medium and long term for Jaguar Land Rover.
Indeed, the firm is now trying to develop a new economy and a more modern industry. This requires sustainability and the circular economy. Chorley considers the BESS to be “crucial in helping JLR adopt a new business model based on the circular economy, to help us move towards carbon neutrality by 2039.”
The BESS prevents energy losses
David Wykes, boss of Wykes Engineering, is pleased with the effectiveness of the BESS project. According to him, this is a perfect way to maximize solar energy harvesting.
He explains that the BESS system is intended to be simple, in order to be able to develop it quickly. After the batteries have been removed from the I-Pace, they go directly to the containers. These consist of racks in which it is easy to integrate and connect the batteries.
“One of the main advantages of the system we have developed is that the containers are connected to the grid in such a way that they can absorb solar energy which otherwise could be lost when the grid reaches capacity”note Wykes.
“This excess energy can now be stored in the second-life I-Pace batteries and discharged later. This allows us to “overplant” the solar park and maximize the amount of energy we produce for the amount of land we use. »
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