Energy Matters Forums

[MichaelB]

Nissan is planning on re-purposing old electric car batteries for use in applications such as off grid solar power storage. It seems the lithium-ion batteries will still have 80% capacity at the end of their serviceable life in cars.

http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.p ... cle_id=635

I've been hoping to see lithium-ion put to use in renewable energy systems - would be much lighter than current deep cycle batteries. The battery I use in my off grid adventures weighs more than I do!

[Tracker]

While there is no existing supply of such batteries, by 2020 in Japan, the demand for electric car battery packs is expected to reach the equivalent of at least 50,000 vehicles per year.

Are you not being a little premature ? There I was getting all excited, and they don't have such cars.

Still - it prompts the question - What does happen with the existing Hybrid Car batteries?

[MichaelB]

Haha, yeh, I should know better.. I get all excited about some of these renewable energy breakthroughs too, click through to the stories and see stuff like "under development" and "coming soon"

Nissan *will* be launching the LEAF soon:

http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/#/car/index

and just to clarify "soon".. the LEAF will be on the road in some US states in 2010. Mass-production will begin in 2012.

.. but it will be some time before those batteries are repurposed I guess . As for batteries in current hybrids, I have no idea. I'm assuming some of them will take a "leaf" out of Nissan's book now... hope they do anyway.