AUTONEWS

Hyundai tests second-life E-GMP batteries as energy storage for fast chargers

Hyundai Motor Group has launched a pilot project in South Korea to reuse retired EV batteries. Its UBESS test system will assess whether used E-GMP battery packs can provide stationary energy storage at fast-charging stations, easing demand on the grid and reducing costs.

Hyundai Motor Group has launched a pilot project in South Korea to reuse retired EV batteries. Its UBESS test system will assess whether used E-GMP battery packs can provide stationary energy storage at fast-charging stations, easing demand on the grid and reducing costs.

On September 10, Hyundai Motor and Kia, in collaboration with LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Engineering, and Wonik P&E, held an event at Wonik P&E's Dongtan facility in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, to kick off a project validating a next-generation ESS business model using used batteries.

The Used Battery Energy Storage System (UBESS) is designed to repurpose batteries that have been used in electric vehicles before they are discarded or recycled. The goal is to extend the lifespan of batteries that still maintain a certain level of performance by reusing them for energy storage.

The demonstration facility has a total capacity of 200 kWh. Hyundai Motor Group plans to operate it in conjunction with fast chargers for electric vehicles, storing electricity during off-peak hours when rates are lower and using the stored power to charge vehicles during peak hours when rates are higher.

This demonstration marks the first domestic case of utilizing used battery packs from vehicles based on Hyundai Motor Group's dedicated electric vehicle platform, E-GMP. The group unveiled E-GMP in December 2020 and began launching dedicated electric vehicles into the market starting with the Ioniq 5 in 2021.

Hyundai Motor and Kia will be responsible for verifying technologies and developing business models for the safe and efficient use of used batteries. LG Energy Solution will manufacture the ESS using the used battery packs provided by Hyundai Motor and Kia, supporting the verification of system performance and safety through battery diagnostics and operational technology.

Hyundai Engineering will explore the feasibility of business performance and the integration of charging infrastructure based on its experience in operating electric vehicle charging systems. Wonik P&E will handle facility operation and technology verification, leveraging its capabilities in manufacturing electric vehicle chargers and building infrastructure.

As the adoption of electric vehicles expands in South Korea, finding ways to reuse batteries after a certain period of use has become a key issue in the domestic automotive market. This demonstration is necessary to validate the reuse of products with remaining performance and safety from batteries separated from electric vehicles.

In the future, the five companies will comprehensively verify charging and discharging control algorithms, system safety and reliability, battery performance maintenance characteristics, charging service quality, and operational efficiency. Through this, they aim to confirm the reuse potential of used batteries and develop business models for establishing a circular economy for batteries.

A Hyundai Motor representative stated, "This initiative aims to give used batteries, which have diminished performance for vehicle operation, a second life as energy storage systems. Rather than immediately replacing the existing ESS market, we will continuously validate the potential for utilizing used batteries through this demonstration."

Technology and performance: Testing second-life batteries...The pilot will assess the technical feasibility of using retired vehicle batteries in stationary charging systems. Its 200 kWh storage system contains used battery packs from vehicles built on the modular E-GMP platform. Testing will focus on charging and discharging algorithms, thermal safety and how well the batteries retain capacity as they age under real operating conditions. By storing grid electricity during off-peak hours, the system is intended to absorb demand spikes and reduce strain on the local grid.

Context and infrastructure: Testing a circular battery economy...Automakers are increasingly testing ways to reuse batteries before recycling their raw materials. Like BMW with its storage facility at the Leipzig plant and Mercedes-Benz Energy, Hyundai is examining how used EV batteries can enter a second phase of service. While large commercial storage systems such as the Tesla Megapack use new cells, the UBESS trial focuses on whether used batteries are economical at fast-charging stations. Obstacles to wider deployment include accurately assessing the state of health of used modules and the lack of finalized certification standards.

The UBESS pilot is a practical test of whether a circular battery economy can work. Its results will show whether storage systems using retired E-GMP batteries can be scaled safely and economically over the long term.

Project overview:

• Partners: Hyundai Motor, Kia, LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Engineering, and Wonik PNE.

• Location: Wonik PNE's plant in Dongtan, Hwaseong, South Korea.

• Capacity: A 200-kilowatt-hour Used-Battery Energy Storage System (UBESS).

• Function: The system stores electricity during off-peak hours when rates are low and powers DC fast chargers for electric vehicles during high-demand peak periods.

Goals and testing:

• First of its kind: This marks South Korea's first demonstration project to directly link retired battery packs from E-GMP vehicles to EV fast-charging infrastructure.

• Evaluations: The partners are jointly testing charge-discharge control algorithms, system safety and reliability, battery performance retention, and operational efficiency to build a profitable circular battery economy