Modules made with high voltage batteries can be reused after the car’s life cycle and given a second use in sustainable vehicles
A second life for electric car batteries: the German-Indian start-up Nunam is going to start using three electric bicycle taxis on the roads of India. They are powered by recycled batteries from the Audi e-tron test fleet. The aim of the project is to investigate how modules made from high voltage batteries can be reused and given a second life after the car’s life cycle. The project also aims to boost employment for women in India by using electric bicycle taxis as a mode of transport. Based in Berlin and Bangalore, this non-profit start-up is funded by the Audi Foundation for the Environment. Nunam has developed all three prototypes in collaboration with the training team at Audi’s headquarters in Neckarsulm, which in turn benefits from the intense cultural exchange. Besides Nunam, this is the first joint project between AUDI AG and the Audi Foundation for the Environment.
Traditional electric rickshaws (pedicabs) powered by second-hand batteries are scheduled to enter India’s roads for the first time in early 2023 in a pilot project. They will be made available there to a non-profit organization. Women, in particular, will be able to use these all-electric vehicles to get around and sell their products, all without going through intermediaries. The electric pedicabs are powered by used battery modules that had their first life in an Audi e-tron. “Recycled batteries are still extremely powerful,” explains Nunam co-founder Prodip Chatterjee. “When used properly, second-hand batteries can be of great benefit, helping people in difficult situations earn an income and gain financial independence, all in a sustainable way.”
The company’s main goal is to develop ways to use spent batteries as second-life energy storage systems, extending their lifespan and using resources more efficiently.
“Car batteries are designed to last the life of the vehicle. But even after use, they still retain a lot of their energy,” says Chatterjee. “For use in vehicles with a smaller range and power requirement, as well as a lower gross weight, they show great promise. In this second life project, we are reusing batteries from electric cars. in other electric vehicles, we could call it ‘light’ electric mobility, trying to find out how much energy the batteries can continue to deliver in this demanding use.”
“Electric pedicabs are ideally eco-efficient,” explains Chatterjee, 31. With a high energy density battery and low vehicle weight compared to an e-tron, the electric motor does not need to be particularly powerful as pedicab drivers in India do not travel at high speeds or long distances. Although electric-powered pedicabs are common on the roads of the subcontinent, they are often powered by lead-acid batteries, which have a relatively short life and are often not properly disposed of.
At the same time, pedicab drivers mainly charge their vehicles with electricity from the public grid, which in India consists largely of coal power. Nunam has a solution for this too: electric bicycle taxis are charged with energy from solar charging stations. Solar panels will be installed on the roofs of its partners’ buildings. During the day, sunlight charges the battery of an e-tron, which acts as an interim storage. At night, the energy is transferred to the pedicabs. This approach makes local driving virtually CO2-free. The result: the electric pedicabs can be used all day long and charged with green energy in the evening and at night. In India, where the sun shines all year round, using solar panels is a no-brainer. The charging station has also been developed in-house.
Nunam will continuously monitor the performance and range of the electric pedicabs. The managers will make all the data from the electric bicycle taxis they collect available to potential followers on circularbattery.org, an open platform. The reproduction of the project is even expressly encouraged. “Initiatives like Nunam’s are needed to find new ways to use electrical waste. Not just in India, but all over the world. That is why Nunam is sharing its knowledge to motivate further product development initiatives with second-life components that can fuel an eco-social revolution,” said Rüdiger Recknagel, head of the Audi Foundation for the Environment, which has been funding Nunam since 2019.
Also, having spent its first life in an Audi e-tron and its second in an electric bicycle taxi, the battery does not have to reach the end of its life. In a third step, the remaining power of the batteries could be used for stationary applications, such as LED lighting. “We want to get the most out of every battery before we recycle it,” said co-founder Prodip Chatterjee.
In the long term, electric mobility and solar energy could help reduce India’s reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, reduce the huge amount of exhaust emissions on India’s roads and provide the population with reliable electricity. Rüdiger Recknagel comments: “In many ways this project points the way forward.”
In addition to pedicabs intended for road use in India, students at the Neckarsulm plant are developing a display pedicab in collaboration with Nunam. Visitors to the Greentech Festival in Berlin can get acquainted with it and even try it out from 22 June. Led by Timo Engler, responsible for the automotive engineering and logistics training at Neckarsulm, a team of twelve students plays a key role in the development. “The students and Nunam are in constant communication: we have a direct line between Neckarsulm and Bangalore. When building the show rickshaw, our students focused on range, charging time and design – the result is a rickshaw with all the Audi DNA,” says Engler. “It is important to us that the students participate in the project from start to finish and that they are free to contribute and bring in their own ideas. Our recipe for success is ‘Learning by working’. At the same time, we provide fundamental knowledge about the development of electromobility, resource efficiency and charging technologies in an almost playful and informal way. It is an innovative project because it combines the megatrends of sustainability, electromobility, internationalization and social responsibility.”
The students replaced the combustion engine with an electric one and designed the subfloor to house the second-hand batteries and to be impact and water resistant, while using as many recyclable materials as possible. Mechatronics technicians, body builders, painters, tool fitters, IT technicians and automation technicians participated in the project. “We are delighted to offer our students the opportunity to participate in an international project through the Foundation’s network. It promotes the intercultural exchange of knowledge and technology, which benefits both parties enormously,” says Rüdiger Recknagel.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
