Vision Mechatronics is prioritising a UPS backup solution, having already deployed its inaugural product at an industrial site in Pune. This installation demonstrates the adaptability and practicality of repurposing second-life EV batteries.
On Friday, JSW MG Motor India announced a collaboration with Vision Mechatronics to repurpose old electric vehicle batteries using a domestic battery management system for deployment in large-scale energy storage solutions.
This partnership, involving a technology company specialising in second-life batteries, initially targets a UPS backup solution. The first implementation of this product has already been installed at an industrial site in Pune, demonstrating the adaptability and effectiveness of reusing EV batteries.
According to the agreement, JSW MG Motor India will supply Vision Mechatronics with EV batteries that are no longer suitable for road use. These batteries will be transformed for second-life applications in large-scale energy storage.
Gaurav Gupta, Chief Growth Officer at JSW MG Motor India, detailed their accomplishments by stating that in collaboration with Vision Mechatronics, they have created a 36-kilowatt UPS for industrial applications. This system employs cells from batteries that are no longer utilized in vehicles, serving as a prime example of how repurposing batteries demonstrates that their utility extends beyond their automotive life.
He also revealed the launch of a high-voltage, second-life battery project featuring an indigenous Battery Management System (BMS), which he described as a significant innovation positioning the company for the future.
Gupta highlighted that the initiative aims to provide affordable and sustainable energy storage solutions to numerous small and medium enterprises and corporations.
This initiative marks the company’s third pilot project, following an off-grid charging station developed with IIT Delhi and Batx and another pilot that installed a 5kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in a Nainital school in collaboration with Lohum and Teri.
These efforts are part of the company’s ‘Project Revive’, which underscores its commitment to innovative recycling of EV batteries, according to Gupta.
Rashi Gupta, Managing Director of Vision Mechatronics, noted that the repurposed batteries could serve various functions, including UPS systems, diesel generator replacements, or backups. She mentioned that the focus is currently on UPS solutions because they represent a straightforward opportunity, but she anticipated that applications could broaden within six months.
