BatteReverse brings you Short Circuit, our webinar series that focuses on the most relevant battery circularity topics today. The second edition of the series, 'Short Circuit: Battery Testing in Reverse Logistics’, brought together reverse logistics experts to discuss current and future trends in battery testing technology in reverse logistics.
Piotr Grudzień from Bax & Company commenced the event with an introduction to the BatteReverse project, followed by two rounds of networking in breakout rooms involving all webinar participants. Subsequently, Nicolas Guillet of CEA-Liten presented battery testing approaches in reverse logistics, leading to a panel discussion moderated by Rose Gregorio from the EIT Urban Mobility Foundation. The panel included experts from both research and industry - such as Guillaume Hébert from Moba and Oscar Oteruelo Fernandez from SEAT – to delve into the challenges and advancements in battery testing for the reverse logistics of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Key highlights from the discussion include:
- Understanding the need for battery testing: Oscar Oteruelo (SEAT) initiated the discussion by emphasising the necessity of battery testing due to the diverse chemistry compositions of cells, which influence their residual values. He also explained its significance as a decision-making tool for future battery use (reuse, repurpose, or recycling). Guillaume Hébert advocated for the creation of a battery certificate based on test results to enhance transparency for buyers.
- Technical approaches to battery testing: Nicolas Guillet elaborated on various diagnostic and testing methods, including electrochemical (e.g., Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy - EIS), electric (e.g., charging/discharging), physical (e.g.,deformation), and numerical (e.g., Battery Management System - BMS data) strategies. He stressed the importance of combining these techniques for the most accurate assessment of the battery's State of Health (SoH) and Remaining Useful Life (RUL). Guillaume Hébert highlighted the importance of reliable and accessible BMS data from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
- The role of OEMs and independent tests: Oscar Oteruelo underscored the responsibility of OEMs to disclose information regarding battery chemistry, certification, and environmental impacts. However, to facilitate the purchase of second-life batteries, their health information needs to be disclosed as well. Nicolas Guillet pointed out the challenges of accessing battery data, particularly when both the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus and BMS are non-functional, emphasising the reliance on historical battery data.
- The future of battery testing: Nicolas Guillet expressed high expectations for improvements in battery testing, given the significant impact of RUL and SoH on second-life battery usage. Oscar Oteruelo anticipated faster and more accessible battery testing with cheaper hardware, enhancing both battery safety considerations and decision-making regarding battery use. Guillaume Hébert concurred, emphasising that future battery testing will not only assess SoH but also determine the actual commodity value of the battery.
We extend our gratitude to all the experts who joined our discussion and to the audience for their engaging questions.
You can rewatch the recording of the session on the Battereverse Community platform.
SAVE THE DATE: the next Short Circuit webinar on battery dismantling will take place on Tuesday May 28th!
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