Sponsored By

Jaguar EV Batteries Are Headed to a Second Life as Power StationsJaguar EV Batteries Are Headed to a Second Life as Power Stations

Jaguar partners with mobile power company Pramac to convert retired EV batteries into power sources.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

March 29, 2022

5 Slides
JLR_Pramac_SecondLifeBattery_I-PACE_1503_01.jpg

Already have an account?

The Jaguar I-Pace EV will provide second-life battery cells for the Pramac Energy Storage System.Image courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover

As more EVs hit the road, they will create more worn-out batteries over time. While battery manufacturers are keenly interested in recovering the vital materials inside these batteries for re-use, there’s no need to tear car batteries apart just because their capacity has fallen below the 80 percent threshold generally regarded as the end of their usefulness as automotive power sources.

Instead, they can become the source of power in stationary power sources such as those made by the Italian company Pramac. Jaguar has announced a deal to provide Pramac with batteries that are retired from the company’s i-Pace EVs.

The I-Pace carries 90 kilowatt-hours of LG Chem lithium-ion battery cells that can continue to provide power long after they can’t hold enough juice for most drivers’ satisfaction. These cells will live on in Pramac’s Mobile Battery Energy Storage System, which packs 125 kWh of battery capacity and a solar panel for charging it.

The ESS can then charge EVs from the solar-powered battery pack with a Level 2 AC charger that is rated at 22 kW maximum power for quick recharges. Used as a home backup power supply, the ESS holds enough power to run a typical home for a week, according to Pramac.

JLR_Pramac_SecondLifeBattery_Infographic_150322.jpg

“We have been privileged to work so closely with Jaguar Land Rover, who are a hugely supportive partner in our journey to successfully build a robust product and a commercially viable business case using second-life EV modules,” remarked Danny Jones, Pramac director.

Jaguar plans to showcase the collaboration by using the Pramac ESS systems to power its Formula E race cars during the season, reported Andrew Whitworth, Battery Manager for the Circular Economy Team at Jaguar Land Rover.

“This announcement is a great example of how we will collaborate with industry leaders to deliver our sustainable future and achieve a truly circular economy,” he explained. “We’re delighted to be working with Pramac to use Jaguar I-PACE second-life batteries to provide portable zero-emissions power and supporting Jaguar TCS Racing this season was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate what these units are capable of.”

Jaguar’s warranty on the I-Pace’s battery assures that it will maintain at least 70 percent capacity for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Jaguar uses LG Chem prismatic battery cells.

 

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

AstonMartinVanquish_©AndyMorgan_025_copy_2.JPG

He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

Sign up for Battery Technology newsletters

You May Also Like