The first batch of retiring power battery companies have explored the roads and used the energy storage market.

The first batch of retiring tides of power batteries are coming. In the industry's view, the life of power batteries in new energy vehicles is generally about 3-5 years, when the battery capacity drops to about 75%, it will be eliminated. From this calculation, the first batch of new energy vehicle power batteries put into the market are basically at the critical point of elimination. Forecasts from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center show that the total number of scrapped power batteries nationwide will reach 1.2-200,000 tons in 2018-2020, and by 2025 this number will soar to 350,000 tons.

Retired power batteries still have high energy value, and their use of ladders has both environmental and economic value. "The use of the energy storage battery ladder realizes the comprehensive application of the battery life, so that its use value and economic benefits can be maximized." Many industry insiders told reporters.

Enterprises are exploring the road

According to Wang Zidong, director of the China North Vehicle Research Institute and the National 863 Power Battery Testing Center, the cost of using lithium-ion battery systems for ladders is about 1,000 Yuan per kWh. If the cycle life exceeds 1000 times, the price/performance ratio exceeds lead acid. The battery, "actually the cycle life will exceed 3,000 times, so the use of the power battery ladder is very competitive."

Faced with the huge space of the use of the ladder, the company has realized the business opportunities and is actively exploring the road. For example, Haishuda New Energy has implemented power battery ladder energy storage projects in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Zhejiang.

"Now the cost of energy storage system for lithium battery ladders has entered a new era of 1 Yuan /Wh, and the user-side energy storage application has commercial promotion value." Jianyu Li, general manager of Shanghai Yuda New Energy, said in an interview with reporters, "compared The energy storage cost of the new battery, such as the cost of the lead carbon battery system is 1.3 Yuan -1.4 Yuan /Wh, and the lithium battery system is 2 Yuan / Wh. It can be seen that the cost advantage of using energy storage in the ladder is obvious."

The use of energy-efficient business models for tiers has mobilized the enthusiasm of companies to enter this field. During the interview, the reporter learned that many companies have now set their sights on this.

"Lion Technology is planning to use the decommissioned power battery on electric vehicles in the field of energy storage," said Wang Wei, general manager of Clean Power, Shenzhen Lions.

"We are exploring and storing the energy storage projects in the ladder. At present, there are more energy storages for the user side in the country. Through the arbitrage between the peaks and valleys, we can have a good income space. Adding the energy storage in the new energy consumption, Will also have a large application space." Wang Wei told reporters.

"We are also vigorously exploring the use of energy storage and making some technical reserves." The general manager of Zhangzhou Hao Peng Technology told reporters that "the use of the ladder market is a process of gradual cultivation, with the continuous consumption of the same type of batteries. Increase, I believe that after 1-2 years, the economics of energy storage will be better reflected."

Jianyu Li further stated that in view of the fact that the number of decommissioned batteries will increase exponentially in the future, “this year’s cost of energy storage will drop to 0.8 Yuan/WH, and will fall to 0.7 Yuan/WH in 2019, when the project’s return on investment will return. It will be greatly improved. We have already layout in advance and cooperated with new energy car manufacturers and power battery manufacturers."

Solve technical problems

The decommissioning of new energy vehicles, the use of energy storage in ladders, is not a simple parallel transplant, but also needs to solve the problem of battery consistency and safety, as well as further technical research.

In Wang Wei's view, the most critical problem in the use of energy storage is the detection process. Only when the working state of the retired cell or module is correctly judged can the matching step utilization be carried out. To this end, Tianjin Lions New Energy has developed and established a comprehensive evaluation system centered on the use of information systems for the use of decommissioned batteries. "The system integrates three important links, such as database, model and evaluation method, material management, etc., and can support the residual value of the decommissioned battery, information traceability, and ladder utilization plan."

Jianwei Li believes that string distribution is the core point of using energy storage in the ladder. "Connecting the batteries on one car in series, with an energy storage converter, resolutely do not connect in parallel, and add a monitoring unit to form an energy storage system to maximize battery consistency. ”

Zidong Wang pointed out that the power battery can theoretically recycle the ladder, but the problem lies in the product structure and production process design of the power battery. Many enterprises use laser welding technology to connect the batteries in series to improve the reliability of the battery pack work, or Use bolt fastening method. Such a connection structure makes it difficult to utilize the power battery ladder, and the cost of reassembling the battery pack into a battery pack by the user is too large, which hinders the use of the power battery. "Therefore, it is necessary to make bold innovations in the structural design and production process of the power battery product, to facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the battery pack and maintenance, and to shorten the battery assembly time through automated assembly equipment." He further suggested.

Safety concerns remain

Regarding the use of energy storage by ladders, there are different voices in the industry. Opponents believe that because they are directly related to electricity, the use of ladders is safe and efficient, and there cannot be any potential safety hazards.

"We are also studying about the use of ladders, but this one is more complicated. It is not as simple as imagined. The quality of decommissioned batteries is different. It also needs to solve many problems such as safety, consistency, technicality and economy." Wu Jiajing, vice president of the business department, said frankly.

In Wujia appearance, energy storage batteries and power batteries have different technical concerns. Energy storage systems and power systems face different levels of system complexity, especially after long-term use. The decline makes the use of the ladder more similar to the pseudo-proposition, and the large-scale screening work for the batteries with different consistency also makes the enterprise economically deterred.

“The use of ladders is valuable, but there are also bottlenecks. There are many scenarios for the use of ladders. It is not necessary to focus on power storage and large-scale energy storage, because these requirements for safety and reliability are high.” Chen Bo, president of Nandu Power, accepted The reporter said in an interview, "Our ladder utilization is mainly applied to communication base stations, UPS, low-speed car power industry, which will be easier."

“The use of decommissioned battery ladders in large-scale storage systems has many uncertainties. I have conservative opinions on this. But in small systems, the application is more realistic. If the use of ladders and household energy storage are combined, the market quantity is not small, and it does not have to be placed on the energy storage system above the megawatt level.” Xisheng Tang, general manager of Beijing Shuangdeng Huifeng Jueneng Technology Co., Ltd. told the reporter.

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