Smart and Circular Battery Charging Solutions

External project members:
Vinit Parida (LTU), Wiebke Reim (LTU).

The aim of this project is to evaluate the potential of battery circularity approaches for creating supplementary charging solutions for electric vehicles. The increasing adoption of electric vehicles highlights the need for more efficient and smart charging infrastructure that does not strain the local power grids. Additionally, there is a growing demand for electricity generated from renewable sources. By repurposing and reusing electric vehicle batteries, which still have remaining useful life, as a renewable energy storage and charging system, companies in the transport industry can extend battery lifespan, minimize environmental impact, and promote renewable energy sources.

Collaborating with local municipalities and companies, MDU and LTU are working towards achieving climate-neutral electrification through circular battery approaches. Svealandstrafiken, Luleå Lokaltrafik, Transdev, Epiroc, CheckWatt, Eskilstuna Kommun, Luleå Kommun, and Electrification Hub are among the partners involved in this project. The project addresses the issues, considering perspectives of business models, battery performance monitoring, ecosystem management, and policies. By examining each of these areas in detail, we can better understand how they interact with one another and identify opportunities for optimization and improvement.

Project objective

The SmartCharg project develops new knowledge in this area by fulfilling following four objectives:

1. developing digitally-enabled circular business models that will support the lifespan extension, reuse, and repurposing of EV batteries to create supplementary charging solutions,
2. developing charging solutions that will optimize the charging process, considering the battery’s state of charge, age, and temperature; interaction between the grid and vehicles Battery Management Systems,
3. building partnerships and ecosystems, among industry stakeholders, government agencies, SMEs, startups, and research institutes to facilitate the development and implementation of supplementary charging solutions through the battery circularity, and
4. developing policies, standards, and regulations in promoting the development and implementation of supplementary charging solutions with the use of battery circularity approaches, including regulations for the collection, transportation, and processing of batteries.