CIDETEC Energy Storage advances to give a second life to electric vehicle batteries

Through the BATTERY2LIFE project, it will use smart technology to extend the lifespan of batteries and ensure their safe reuse.

As part of the European BATTERY2LIFE project, CIDETEC Energy Storage has made significant progress in developing key tools to extend the lifespan of electric vehicle batteries, promoting their reuse in stationary applications and fostering a more sustainable energy model.

At the halfway point of the project, one of the milestones achieved is the creation of a tool that allows analysis of the condition and viability of batteries at the end of their first life. This tool combines technical and economic analyses to accurately assess whether a battery can be reused, as well as to size the second-life system according to the energy needs of its new environment.

In addition, intelligent systems have been implemented to predict how long these batteries can continue functioning in their second use. These cloud-hosted models contribute to system reliability, facilitating tasks such as preventive maintenance or replacement planning.

Furthermore, CIDETEC Energy Storage has developed early detection methods for risk phenomena, enhancing the safety of these reused systems. Among these, technologies such as Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) stand out, enabling the monitoring of critical states like thermal runaway risk or metallic lithium deposition. Alternative approaches based on preventive models are also proposed when EIS systems are unavailable.

A methodology for battery evaluation and classification has also been defined, allowing units with similar characteristics to be grouped, optimizing their selection for second use. This process includes laboratory testing and data post-processing, which will be integrated into the tools developed by the project for the evaluation and reuse of end-of-first-life systems.

BATTERY2LIFE is making progress in solving some of the main challenges of second-life battery usage: from dismantling and state assessment to reconfiguration and reuse in new applications. This comes in a context where it is estimated that by 2030, more than 5 million tons of electric vehicle batteries could reach the end of their life, with an average remaining capacity of 70-80%.

CIDETEC Energy Storage’s work in BATTERY2LIFE will harness this energy storage potential, reducing waste, optimizing resources, and taking another step toward a circular economy in electric mobility.