Batteries used in electric mobility can be reused

Tupy and Senai Paraná develop a project that enables reuse, contributing to lower environmental impact

They became popular. In the last few years, lithium-ion batteries have been growing in the mobility market through applications in scooters, bicycles, motorcycles, and especially electric cars. Thinking about the high demand for this type of application, Tupy and Senai Paraná are developing a project that should allow the reuse of these batteries in other segments.

When used in mobility-oriented products, lithium-ion batteries require high performance. For this reason, these batteries need to be replaced in the long term not to compromise the proper performance of the equipment. But even at the end of the useful life of the vehicle, battery cells and modules can still be reused in other applications before being recycled. Tupy and Senai Paraná, through the Senai Institute of Innovation in Electrochemistry, are working to develop a method to validate batteries for second-life applications, given that cells and modules can only be reused after undergoing strict technical evaluation.

With this project, the institutions intend to innovate in the screening and testing procedures of batteries for second-life applications. Moreover, the study has a positive environmental impact given that it proposes the reuse of batteries, an initiative that, according to the hierarchy proposed by the National Solid Waste Policy, comes before recycling.

“Similar to nearly all the products we use, batteries also reach the end of their lives, which should occur in around eight to ten years. That means that in a decade, most batteries used in electric vehicles will need to be replaced by new ones. If not correctly disposed of, the volume of batteries will become a huge environmental liability. That is why several measures are being taken, including studies and developments focused on the second use of these batteries”, says Heverson Freitas, a researcher at Senai Paraná.

The implementation of the project will provide Tupy with expertise in the analysis and preparation of second-life lithium-ion battery packs, a knowledge that can be a new branch in the Company’s business. “We have already announced other development projects in the battery field but they are dedicated to recycling. In the case of reuse, the market opportunity is different. The increased use of renewable energy sources makes intermittency a concern. It is possible to balance energy demand and production through batteries, generating greater operating efficiency. Second-use batteries reduce economic and environmental costs, increasing the feasibility of solar and wind generation projects, as well as fast charging stations”, says André Ferrarese, a director at Tupy Tech.

About Tupy

A Brazilian multinational company that designs and manufactures cast iron structural components with highly complex geometry and metallurgy. These engineering solutions are applied to the transportation, infrastructure, agribusiness and energy generation sectors, contributing to the quality of life of people, promoting access to health, basic sanitation, drinking water, and the production and distribution of food worldwide. The technological innovation involved in the design and manufacture of these parts has been the Company’s specialty throughout its more than 80 years of history. The production is concentrated in the Brazilian factories located in Betim (MG), Joinville (SC) and Mauá (SP), and abroad, in the cities of Aveiro, in Portugal, and in Saltillo, and Ramos Arizpe, in Mexico. Tupy also has commercial officers in Germany, Brazil, the U.S.A., and Italy.