SougarLord Posted September 10, 2020 Posted September 10, 2020 Once batteries are removed from Volvo buses, they are reused as energy storage units for several years, for example in buildings and charging stations. “Volvo Buses is one of the pioneers in electromobility which provides clean, quiet and efficient public transport. We have a clear sustainability strategy at every stage of our value chain, and we are now taking a further step through the planned and consistent reuse of bus batteries. In our electromobility operation, we are creating a new business cycle and this alliance is truly an important step in the right direction, ”commented Håkan Agnevall, President of Volvo Buses. 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 capacity is too limited to power a bus efficiently, but it is 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. “We are delighted and proud that Batteryloop has the opportunity to purchase the used batteries and develop this solution together with Volvo Buses. In addition to reuse, under the established agreement, we also guarantee safe and environmentally friendly recycling when batteries reach the end of their second life as energy storage units. Therefore, we offer a sustainable solution for Volvo Buses batteries. In addition, this alliance means that we can turn a cost into a source of revenue for the customer, ”said Rasmus Bergström, President of Batteryloop. The recently signed new agreement is global in scope. Covers all batteries that Volvo Buses is responsible for in its electric buses around the world. To date, most of these buses are in Europe, but the number of electric buses is expected to increase in other parts of the world as well. “We see a constantly increasing demand for electric buses in cities around the world, and as we were pioneers in the electric bus market, the number of used batteries will increase,” explained Håkan Agnevall. The demand for local energy storage units is expected to increase in the future. Equally important, an energy storage unit offers new scope for storing renewable energy, which can be used to meet spikes in electricity demand. Any surplus can be sold, delivering directly to the network. “An energy storage unit is like a large power bank that gives the user considerable flexibility and can help generate revenue. We see that there is a fast growing market in different types of properties, and also in charging stations for electric vehicles, both in industry and in society. Our alliance with Volvo Buses will provide a valuable contribution to the development of the infrastructure that needs to be built, ”said Rasmus Bergström. Batteryloop and Volvo Buses were previously involved in a joint project with Stena Fastigheter, whereby bus batteries are used as energy storage units to provide electricity to the residential area of Fyrklövern in Gothenburg. The electricity stored in these units comes from solar panels installed on the rooftops of apartment buildings.
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