Jaguar Land Rover has formed a partnership with the energy business Pramac to collaborate on the development of a transportable zero-emission energy storage unit that will be powered by used batteries from Jaguar I-Pace vehicles.
Pramac’s technology, which it calls the Off Grid Battery Energy Storage System (ESS) and which uses lithium-ion cells from Jaguar I-Pace batteries taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles, provides zero-emission power in areas where access to the mains supply is limited or unavailable. These cells were taken from the batteries of prototype and engineering test vehicles.
The unit is a self-contained solution that is charged by solar panels and comprises of a battery system coupled to a bi-directional converter and the accompanying control management systems. Solar panels are the source of power for the unit. In order to facilitate the charging of electric vehicles, these units are outfitted with Type 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) charge connectors that feature dynamic control and are rated at up to 22kW AC. They are available for hire on a commercial basis.
The flagship system has a capacity of up to 125 kWh, which is more than sufficient to completely charge Jaguar’s all-electric I-PACE performance SUV or to provide an average family home with electricity for seven days straight.
Within the storage unit, Pramac directly reuses up to 85 percent of the car battery that was given by Jaguar Land Rover. This percentage includes the modules and wiring. The leftover materials are put back into circulation through the supply chain as recycled goods.
During the testing that took place in the United Kingdom and Spain, the unit assisted Jaguar TCS Racing in preparing for the 2022 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. It was used to run the team’s cutting-edge diagnostic equipment that analyzed the performance of the race cars on the track, and it also supplied auxiliary power to the Jaguar pit garage. This allowed the unit to demonstrate its capability.
In order to assist the site in coping with inconsistent power delivery from the mains, an Off Grid Battery ESS will also be deployed at the Jaguar Land Rover Experience Centre, which is located in Johannesburg, South Africa. This center is the largest in the world.
This is the first collaboration that Jaguar Land Rover has established as part of its aim to develop new circular economy business models for the company’s car batteries. The business is establishing a program that will give second life and other applications for its electric car batteries as part of its ambition to achieve net zero status by the year 2039.
Because Jaguar Land Rover’s batteries are engineered to the highest standards, they are suitable for use in a variety of low-energy settings after they have been used in an electric vehicle and their health has deteriorated to the point where it no longer meets the requirements for an electric vehicle.
This allows for the existence of post-vehicle applications. It is possible that by the year 2030, the supply of second-life batteries for stationary applications, such as the storage of renewable energy, could approach 200 gigawatt-hours per year, resulting in a worldwide value of more than $30 billion.
Battery manager for Jaguar Land Rover’s Circular Economy Team, Andrew Whitworth, had the following to say about the recent news: “This announcement is a terrific illustration of how we will partner with industry leaders to deliver our sustainable future and establish a fully circular economy.” We are thrilled to be collaborating with Pramac to deliver portable zero-emissions power using second-life batteries from the Jaguar I-PACE, and we believe that sponsoring Jaguar TCS Racing this season provided a fantastic chance to demonstrate what these units are capable of.”
The executive director for strategy and sustainability at Jaguar Land Rover, Francois Dossa, made the following statement: “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 efforts to enable technological and economic advancements for the reuse of batteries in applications designed for second lives. Our work along with Pramac is a significant step in this direction. It demonstrates how it is feasible to generate zero-emission electricity by combining renewable energy sources with used batteries.
The Jaguar TCS Racing team demonstrated, through their testing at Valencia, how we can inspire the entire ecosystem to continue to investigate potential synergies and validate viable solutions for clean energy.
“We have been privileged to work so closely with Jaguar Land Rover who are a hugely supportive partner in our journey to successfully build a robust product and a commercially viable business case using second-life EV modules,” said Danny Jones, the director of Pramac. “We have been privileged to work so closely with Jaguar Land Rover.” As a manufacturer of technology that is both energy efficient and capable of reducing carbon emissions, this adds a new chapter to the story of sustainability. We are excited to continue our journey with Jaguar Land Rover and provide innovative charging infrastructure solutions to support the electrification of their industry-leading vehicles.
