The electric vehicle market is booming, but this is creating a new problem: the high volume of spent batteries. The second-life battery market has emerged to tackle this issue and help establish a circular economy that will facilitate the decarbonization of the transportation sector.
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Application Areas of Second-Life Batteries
The world has committed to making changes to limit global warming to below 2, ideally to 1.5 degrees Celsius, in comparison to pre-industrial levels.
To achieve this goal, all industries and global regions must play their part in reducing their emissions.
Transportation is a significant contributor to carbon emissions. It has the highest reliance on fossil fuels of any other sector and contributes a massive 37% of global carbon emissions. Almost two-thirds of these emissions are attributed to road transportation.
As a solution to drastically cut the transportation sector’s carbon emissions, electric vehicles are being increasingly adopted.
In Q2 2022, sales of electric vehicles accounted for 5.6% of the entire automobile market, having more than doubled from the 2.7% they accounted for in Q2 of 2021. By the end of the decade, we can expect more than 300 million electric vehicles to be on the road, with over 60% of cars sold in 2030 being electric.
This growth in electric vehicle popularity has led to increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries. It is estimated that the global stockpile of these batteries will reach over 3 million by 2025, up from 2018’s 44,000. This poses the industry with a new problem: producing and disposing of high volumes of batteries, which undermines the sustainability of electric vehicles.
Second-life batteries offer a solution. Traditionally, Li-ion batteries are placed into landfill or they are recycled. Second-life batteries have established a third option that can accelerate the circular economy.
When a battery for an electric vehicle reaches 70% capacity, it is considered to be at the end of its life. However, these batteries still have applications in the green economy. They can be used in the following applications.
- Residential batteries
- Stranded power (interruptions in renewable energy supply)
- Office lighting
- Cool fresh food distribution centers
- Transmission support for energy arbitrage
- Reducing energy congestion
Hot Topics in Second-Life Batteries
Hot topics in second-life batteries generally focus on overcoming some of the industry’s key challenges.
The electric vehicle market is relatively new, and very few industry standards currently exist that focus on battery management systems.
By 2025, there will be 250 new electric vehicle models, with batteries produced by over 15 different manufacturers. Without industry standards, there is no guarantee of the quality or performance of these batteries, an issue that could jeopardize the future of the second-life battery market.
To overcome this issue, some electric vehicle manufacturers are designing their vehicles with second-life applications in mind. Companies include Nissan and GM Motors.
We will likely see more companies follow suit in the future, particularly while the industry needs necessary regulations.
Current Global Market of Second-Life Batteries
The global second-life battery market was valued at $252.2 million in 2021. The market is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade, advancing at a predicted CAGR of 44.7% between 2022 and 2031. By the end of this forecast period, it is estimated to reach a value of $9.93 billion.
Key market drivers
Key market drivers over the next decade will be the growth in the electric vehicle market and the increasing importance of environmental protection.
Asia-Pacific
Emerging countries that have signed the Paris agreement, such as India and China, will be looking for ways to decrease their carbon footprint by reducing their dependence on non-renewable energy. This will also be a key market driver.
The power backup segment accounts for the greatest share of the market (47%), and Asia Pacific represents the market’s most lucrative, accounting for 36.9% of the market in 2021. This share is predicted to rise over the next decade, with China accounting for much of the activity in this region.
North American and European markets
The North American and European markets will likely grow at a moderate pace in the coming years, with the rise in demand for energy storage and enhanced emphasis on environmental protection particularly driving the market in these regions. The US currently accounts for the largest share of the market in North America, although demand in Canada will likely increase at a faster pace.
Key companies driving the second-life battery market forward
Key players in the global market include:
- Enel X S.r.l
- Nissan Motors Corporation
- Fortum
- Renault Group
- Mercedes-Benz Group
- Hyundai Motor Company
- RWE
- Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
- BELECTRIC
- BeePlanet Factory
Future Directions of Second-Life Batteries
The second-life battery market is still relatively new and is expected to see rapid growth in the next decade. This will bring significant changes to the industry. For example, as the cost of new li-ion batteries begins to fall, second-life batteries will need to remain competitive, this will likely require companies to industrialize and scale remanufacturing processes. Studies have indicated that second-life battery companies will remain profitable only in regions where manufacturing and labor costs are low, while productivity remains high.
Battery ownership models are likely to adapt to the changing landscape. As the second-life battery market begins to stabilize, producers of electric vehicle batteries may see the value in retaining ownership of their product, leasing it to electric vehicles owners, and continuing to see profits when the battery is no longer fit for use in the car and moves onto a second-life application. This model could help reduce the cost of electric vehicles, making them more popular and propelling the market for electric vehicles and second-life batteries while encouraging the green transition.
As discussed above, there is a standards and regulatory deficit. In the coming years, this will likely be addressed by global agencies and private sector coalitions. For example, the European Parliament is currently working on new rules.
Final Thoughts
The second-life battery market is on the rise, and partnerships are being established around the globe between all invested parties, including battery manufacturers, electric vehicle makers, and recyclers, to help set up a circular battery economy that benefits all.
The market will likely play an essential role in decarbonizing the transportation sector.
Continue reading: Hydrovolt: Europe's Largest Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Plant
References and Further Reading
2022. New life for old EV batteries: How repurposing can help to drive green power [online]. Circular. Available from: https://www.circularonline.co.uk/opinions/new-life-for-old-ev-batteries-how-repurposing-can-help-to-drive-green-power/ (Last accessed December 2022)
Castelvecchi, D. (2021) Electric cars and batteries: How will the world produce enough? Nature, 596(7872), pp. 336–339. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02222-1
Hauke Engel, Patrick Hertz, and Guilia Siccardo. 2019. Second-life EV batteries: The newest value pool in energy storage [online]. McKinsey. Available from: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/second-life-ev-batteries-the-newest-value-pool-in-energy-storage (Last accessed December 2022)
John Irwin. 2022. Recycling EV batteries critical to meeting electrification targets, executives say [online]. Automotive News. Available from: https://www.autonews.com/mobility-report/recycling-ev-batteries-critical-meeting-electrification-targets-executives-say (Last accessed December 2022)
Second-life EV Battery Market [online]. Transparency Market Research. Available from: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/secondlife-ev-battery-market.html (Last accessed December 2022)
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