Video: Used EV batteries are powering California communities
S. Himmelstein | December 14, 2023A second major electric vehicle (EV) battery storage project has been placed into commercial operation in California by second life energy storage firm B2U Storage Solutions. The 3 MW/12 MWh system composed of Honda Clarity EV batteries has entered service near the community of New Cuyama, California.
Source: B2U Storage Solutions
The Cuyama system is connected to the distribution network operated by utility Pacific Gas and Electric and sells power and grid services into the state's wholesale power market operated by the California Independent System Operator. The project is made up entirely of used EV batteries from Honda Clarity models, unlike the company’s flagship 25 MWh Sierra facility, also in California, which taps 1,300 EV battery packs from diverse vehicles including Nissan, Chevy, Tesla and Ford.
Patented EV Pack Storage System technology enables the use of EV battery packs without reconfiguration in large scale energy storage. The plug and play approach significantly minimizes repurposing and integration costs, streamlining installation in outdoor rated, thermally controlled cabinets in the original pack casing. Cabinet controllers connect and disconnect batteries that are linked in series and parallel strings, so that weaker batteries with lower capacity do not limit the output of stronger batteries.
The company plans to expand outside of California to work in other markets and with third party customers.
It would be interesting to know the initial capital cost and the operating costs for this system.