Nissan finds new uses for dead batteries in electric vehicles [video]

What happens to obsolete electric vehicle batteries when they become unusable for their intended purpose is an increasingly pressing issue of concern to industry and society. Despite wear and tear, they can still store a charge and be used for other purposes.

One possible use of obsolete batteries is to provide emergency power at level crossings. This is exactly what automaker Nissan decided to do with the battery packs of its Leaf electric vehicles after replacing them with new ones.

According to the company, at the end of a battery's life cycle, cells can retain 60 to 80 percent capacity. These power supplies are now replacing lead-acid batteries in emergency power supplies at level crossings in Japan, from the Atago crossing on the Joban Line to Minamisoma City in Fukushima Prefecture.

Lithium-ion batteries can also charge in a third of the time required to charge lead-acid batteries and last longer - 10 years on average, compared to 3-7 years for lead-acid modules.

For the method to work, changes must be made to the management infrastructure. This ensures that the batteries can withstand power surges such as nearby lightning strikes. Trials are underway to analyze the effects of such events, as well as other weather events such as typhoons.

A source: Nissan Europe