Volvo Buses, a subsidiary of AB Volvo (Volvo Group), is a company committed to producing zero-emissions electric buses. They are noteworthy because more and more cities, especially European ones, are implementing strict emissions restrictions in their city centers. But it is no less worrying if the car/bus has been used for a long time and the battery has expired. In the future, it will become a mountain of toxic waste.
Bus batteries are used for many years in regular traffic before they need to be replaced. However, when new batteries are installed in the vehicle, the old ones still have considerable capacity to offer. This ability is too limited to power a bus efficiently, but more than enough for static use for energy storage purposes. Reusing batteries means that natural resources can be conserved, as there is no need to use new batteries for energy storage.
Now, new cooperation between Volvo Buses and Stena Recycling subsidiary Batteryloop aims to significantly extend the commercial service lives of bus batteries. Once batteries are removed from Volvo buses, they are reused as energy storage units for several years, for example in buildings and charging stations.
“We are delighted and proud that Batteryloop has the opportunity to buy the used batteries and develop this solution together with Volvo Buses,” says Rasmus Bergström, President of Batteryloop. “In addition to reuse, under the agreement, we also guarantee safe and environmentally suitable recycling when the batteries come to the end of their second life as energy storage units. We thus offer a sustainable circular solution for Volvo Buses batteries. What is more, this cooperation means we can convert a cost into a source of revenue for the customer.”
The problem with electric vehicles is the battery, which has expensive costs and is having a growing demand. Therefore, reusing old batteries for other infrastructures will reduce costs for automakers and reduce toxic waste.
