Skip advert
Advertisement

Jaguar creates portable EV charger from recycled I-Pace batteries

Repurposed batteries from the I-Pace electric SUV have been used to create a portable EV charger, which holds enough energy to power a house for a week

JLR ESS

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is investigating new ways to extend the life of its electric-car batteries, with the latest being a portable EV charger that uses decommissioned battery packs from the Jaguar I-Pace luxury SUV.

The new Off-Grid Battery Energy Storage System (ESS) is designed for situations when access to mains electricity is limited or unavailable, with integrated solar panels used to top it up. The unit has a capacity of up to 125kWh, which JLR claims is enough energy to power a typical family home for a week.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The portable power station can recharge an electric car at speeds of up to 22kW through its Type 2 connector. Around 85% of the I-Pace’s battery, including its wiring and modules, is reused to create each ESS, with any leftover materials and components recycled as well.

To demonstrate the capability of the ESS, one was used to power the Jaguar Formula E team’s diagnostic equipment and to supply auxiliary power to the pit garage during testing for the 2022 championship.

JLR’s partner for the project is commercial-equipment manufacturer Pramac, which acquired second-life battery specialist Off-Grid Energy last year. The Off-Grid Battery ESS will be available for commercial hire in the near future, but first it’ll be deployed to the Jaguar Land Rover Experience Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, to help the site cope with inconsistent power delivery from the mains.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Developing applications like the ESS for second-life batteries, which are no longer healthy enough for use in electric cars, will become increasingly important as the number of used electric cars continues to climb. According to JLR, stationary applications, such as renewable energy storage, could exceed 200 gigawatt-hours per year by 2030, with a potential global value of over £23 billion.

François Dossa, JLR’s executive director for strategy and sustainability, said: “The transition to an electric future, with Jaguar becoming all-electric from 2025 and the first all-electric Land Rover model expected in 2024, is integral to our sustainability strategy through the development of a comprehensive EV ecosystem from batteries to charging. 

“This includes our effort to enable technical and business innovations for battery reuse for second-life applications. Our collaboration with Pramac is a proof point in this direction, showing how it’s possible to supply zero-emissions power through the combination of renewables and second-life batteries.”

The portable EV charger is part of JLR’s efforts to become net carbon neutral by 2029. Several other manufacturers, including Volvo, BMW, Nissan, Tesla, Mercedes and Honda, are also investigating ways for electric vehicle batteries to be recycled or repurposed.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Welcome one and all, I’m Ellis the news reporter on Auto Express, the brand’s former online reviews editor and contributor to DrivingElectric. I’m proud to say I cut my teeth reporting and reviewing all things EV as the content editor on DrivingElectric. I joined the team while completing my master’s degree in automotive journalism at Coventry University and since then I’ve driven just about every electric car and hybrid I could get my hands on.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Energy price cap to fall in April making 1,000s of electric cars 12% cheaper to charge
Kia EV9 charging
News

Energy price cap to fall in April making 1,000s of electric cars 12% cheaper to charge

23 Feb 2024
Free electric car charging from Octopus Energy as new ‘Power Pack’ tariff launched
Octopus
News

Free electric car charging from Octopus Energy as new ‘Power Pack’ tariff launched

15 Feb 2024
BT plans to upcycle 60,000 street cabinets into EV chargers
BT Green box charger
News

BT plans to upcycle 60,000 street cabinets into EV chargers

8 Jan 2024
Top 10 best 4WD electric cars 2024
Best 4WD electric cars header
Best cars

Top 10 best 4WD electric cars 2024

3 Jan 2024

Most Popular

New Skoda Epiq baby electric SUV to get £22k price point: Simply Clever or epic fail?
Skoda Epiq - header
News

New Skoda Epiq baby electric SUV to get £22k price point: Simply Clever or epic fail?

Skoda’s baby electric SUV will get a bargain starting price and offer a surprising amount of interior space
15 Mar 2024
Hot Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer GTX brings the space and the pace
Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Tourer - front
News

Hot Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer GTX brings the space and the pace

The ID.7 GTX is VW’s new electric flagship. It gets 335bhp and the choice for a hatchback saloon or estate bodystyle
13 Mar 2024
Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is a 322bhp electric Golf GTI
Volkswagen ID.7 GTX - front
News

Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is a 322bhp electric Golf GTI

New flagship version of Volkswagen’s electric hatchback gets more power, more range and more touchscreen real estate
13 Mar 2024