Automotive electronic component maker Mobiletron, its subsidiary RAC Electric Vehicle, and Sumitomo has signed an MoU for cooperation to promote reuse of retired EV batteries.
The MoU also involves the Japan firm’s subsidiary Sumitomo Taiwan.
According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the number of electric buses around the world will exceed one million in 2025, accounting for 47% of all buses running in cities. Retired batteries will be a problem.
Mobiletron has been in developing battery management systems to raise batteries’ efficiency and extend their service life, said company chairman Kim Tsai, adding its technology allow dead batteries to be reused in electric forklifts or energy storage systems at charging stations in line with circular economy.
Mobiletron hopes to promote battery reuse in Taiwan and Japan initially and then Southeast Asia and India through Sumitomo’s marketing networks. Nissan Motor will be the major source of retired batteries for the time being.
A smart charging station jointly built by Mobiletron and RAC at a Taipei bus parking lot have started operation. The station consists of a rooftop PV system, an energy storage system using lithium ion batteries, and power charging machines. The station, for use by 12 electric buses supplied by RAC, is equipped with a cloud-based smart control center.
