Nissan Looks to Energy Storage for Old Leaf Battery Packs

Using a battery to store electricity?

Brilliant!!

Does this article start a disposable car debate?

 

Can the battery not be recycled back into an automotive battery again? If not, why not?

If there are going to be millions of EV's on the road, then surely the batteries need to have a useful use and/or be recycled properly. Trying to find a use for them such as 'energy storage' for undefined usage sounds like they (Nissan et al) don't really know what to do with all these batteries.

 

GC, I think you're missing the point. Used traction batteries still have decent capacity for alternate purposes. Using these high capacity (albeint used) batteries to store grid power (by backfeeding like PV solar does) can help level the grid during times of grid stress. It gives a bit of extra use BEFORE the traction batteries go to recycle.

 

Any clue what they are considering useful car life?

10 years? 20?

 

yes they can, but we need to examine the cost of recycling a battery that has 20% capacity left or one that has 70% (which is considered the point that EV batteries would be replaced) capacity left.

the cost difference is insignificant compared to the additional 10 years of useful life a used EV battery has to give

 

Nissan calls the Leaf's life span 10 years, after which the 80% battery capacity is deemed to be too limiting.

Recycling should be possible. The battery loses capacity because the metal ions moving back and forth as it's discharged & recharged will eventually change the original smooth metal surfaces into lumpy, patchy ones that can't store electricity as effectively. Restoring them to full service isn't as simple as flushing out some fluid and replacing a couple of screws, but it seems to me that if you tear it all the way down you can melt down the materials and start over.

Now, is it economically appealing to recycle them? Since you don't hear much about doing it, I'm guessing not.

 

Here is a technical discussion about Why Advanced Lithium Batteries are hard to recycle. Caution, this fellow is an EV-skeptic.
But the thread topic suggests Nissan may agree with the analyst.

Why Advanced Lithium Ion Batteries Won't Be Recycled | Alternative Energy Stocks

 

How about they take a bunch of these used leaf batteries and install them in the highest floor in the highest building at the highest ground at nuclear power plants during emergencies.

 

you might want to read the first response to the article

 

Thank you Dave! I did not see the comments (because I get the blog sent to my email sans comments). Even more spicy and interesting and technical data in the comments. As a whole article + comments, I thought it fit here.

 

sounds like the author is pushing "other" energy stocks by bashing EV related technology

 

Yes this is stock pickers website for alt energy. But I read the blog only for energy/enviro position development because I tend to agree with some of his points. When appropriate I share a few things here.

 

old leaf batteries + solar panels = electricity for the needy


maybe join up with habitat for humanity