Skoda to use second-hand Li-ion EV batteries to power its dealership network

RahulNagaraj · 9th August 2021, 13:36

Skoda will soon be using second-hand lithium-ion batteries from its PHEVs and BEV models to power its retailer network. Skoda will install power hubs across its retailer network, made from lithium-ion batteries sourced from its old electric vehicles.

Skoda to use second-hand Li-ion EV batteries to power its dealership network-small4349secondlifebatteryhubssettopowerupkodaretailers.jpg

The system has been developed by Skoda in partnership with IBG Cesko - a Czech-based technology company. Once installed the power hubs will be able to provide energy to power the showrooms, workshop buildings and the charging infrastructure for customer cars.

Skoda has successfully completed the pilot project in Prague, with the power hubs now available at select Skoda dealerships across Europe. The company has also received 160 pre-orders for the power hubs from its dealers in Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands and Slovakia.

Skoda to use second-hand Li-ion EV batteries to power its dealership network-small4347enyaqiv.jpg

Skoda states that the power hubs can hold up to 20 batteries from various Skoda plug-in hybrid models (Superb iV and Octavia iV) or five batteries from its fully electric Enyaq iV. This allows the system to store a total capacity of 328 kWh, which can be used to fast-charge customer vehicles by up to 150 kW.

The electricity from the power hubs can also be used to light up the showrooms & workshops and even run the air-conditioning. The electricity can be used at full power, independent of the weather or the current load on the power grid. It can also be scaled up or down, by replacing the batteries anytime in a few simple steps.

Skoda to use second-hand Li-ion EV batteries to power its dealership network-small4348secondlifebatteryhubssettopowerupkodaretailers.jpg

Skoda estimates that the usage of the EV batteries in these power hubs will help extend its life to around 15 years. At the end of its 'second life', Skoda will recycle the cells in a controlled process, with the recovered materials used to create new batteries.

Link to Team-BHP news

Ultim8 · 9th August 2021, 15:03

The attempt by Skoda at its version of Powerwall for powering dealership network seems interesting to me because of:

1) The ability to utilize used batteries from EVs & HEVs, and which can be scaled up easily if required.

2) The potential for battery powered institutions to be powered by renewable energy from either on-site (solar) or outside sources.

This actually reminds me of my dream to see villages in India be powered by on-site renewable energy sources (solar, wind) stored in large batteries.

If an opal mining village in Australia can be powered in the same self-sufficient manner, why not showrooms & even villages in the future?

Shresth_EV · 9th August 2021, 23:34

Excellent news.

This is what people often forget about battery disposal issues.

A battery is never truly dead unless you have terminally damaged it (water leakage/short circuit etc)
Only it’s capacity reduces with time (say a battery had 100kWh capacity when new then after 1500 cycles/1,60,000km, it’s still about 85-90kWh — at least so in case of teslas)

Point being, there is good reason that the 3Rs are in the order they are :
1. Reduce
2. Reuse
3. Recycle

Recycle comes at the very end : batteries like these are still worthy of use and not really “dead”. We can simply reuse in different applications where reduced capacity won’t effect us considerably. Here, weight and size doesn’t matter.

If we need X kWh capacity, nobody really cares how heavy or big it is. In cars we do, so simply reuse batteries as inverter battery or grid energy storage for excess renewable energy generation.

9th August 2021, 13:36	#1
RahulNagaraj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,121 Thanked: 20,654 Times	Skoda to use second-hand Li-ion EV batteries to power its dealership network Skoda will soon be using second-hand lithium-ion batteries from its PHEVs and BEV models to power its retailer network. Skoda will install power hubs across its retailer network, made from lithium-ion batteries sourced from its old electric vehicles. The system has been developed by Skoda in partnership with IBG Cesko - a Czech-based technology company. Once installed the power hubs will be able to provide energy to power the showrooms, workshop buildings and the charging infrastructure for customer cars. Skoda has successfully completed the pilot project in Prague, with the power hubs now available at select Skoda dealerships across Europe. The company has also received 160 pre-orders for the power hubs from its dealers in Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands and Slovakia. Skoda states that the power hubs can hold up to 20 batteries from various Skoda plug-in hybrid models (Superb iV and Octavia iV) or five batteries from its fully electric Enyaq iV. This allows the system to store a total capacity of 328 kWh, which can be used to fast-charge customer vehicles by up to 150 kW. The electricity from the power hubs can also be used to light up the showrooms & workshops and even run the air-conditioning. The electricity can be used at full power, independent of the weather or the current load on the power grid. It can also be scaled up or down, by replacing the batteries anytime in a few simple steps. Skoda estimates that the usage of the EV batteries in these power hubs will help extend its life to around 15 years. At the end of its 'second life', Skoda will recycle the cells in a controlled process, with the recovered materials used to create new batteries. Link to Team-BHP news
	(10) Thanks

9th August 2021, 15:03	#2
Ultim8 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Chennai Posts: 30 Thanked: 79 Times	Re: Skoda to use second-hand Li-ion EV batteries to power its dealership network The attempt by Skoda at its version of Powerwall for powering dealership network seems interesting to me because of: 1) The ability to utilize used batteries from EVs & HEVs, and which can be scaled up easily if required. 2) The potential for battery powered institutions to be powered by renewable energy from either on-site (solar) or outside sources. This actually reminds me of my dream to see villages in India be powered by on-site renewable energy sources (solar, wind) stored in large batteries. If an opal mining village in Australia can be powered in the same self-sufficient manner, why not showrooms & even villages in the future?
	(3) Thanks

9th August 2021, 23:34	#3
Shresth_EV BHPian Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Lucknow Posts: 277 Thanked: 867 Times View My Garage	Re: Skoda to use second-hand Li-ion EV batteries to power its dealership network Excellent news. This is what people often forget about battery disposal issues. A battery is never truly dead unless you have terminally damaged it (water leakage/short circuit etc) Only it’s capacity reduces with time (say a battery had 100kWh capacity when new then after 1500 cycles/1,60,000km, it’s still about 85-90kWh — at least so in case of teslas) Point being, there is good reason that the 3Rs are in the order they are : 1. Reduce 2. Reuse 3. Recycle Recycle comes at the very end : batteries like these are still worthy of use and not really “dead”. We can simply reuse in different applications where reduced capacity won’t effect us considerably. Here, weight and size doesn’t matter. If we need X kWh capacity, nobody really cares how heavy or big it is. In cars we do, so simply reuse batteries as inverter battery or grid energy storage for excess renewable energy generation.
	(6) Thanks