Rhenus is the Official Logistics Partner of the Belgian Olympic Team
7. September 2022
Hupac Opens Transshipment Terminal in Brwinów near Warsaw
7. September 2022
With a strategic partnership, the Korean car manufacturer Kia and Deutsche Bahn (DB) are further advancing the circular economy in electromobility. The idea: Several used lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles are bundled together to create a powerful energy storage system for green electricity. DB Schenker and DB Cargo handle the logistics.
(Berlin) The application areas of these so-called second-life battery storage systems are diverse and flexible: They store excess electricity from photovoltaic systems or can distribute electricity throughout the day in maintenance and provisioning facilities of DB. This reduces costs for peak electricity. The process from sourcing the used batteries to manufacturing is handled by encore, a corporate startup of the DB Bahnbau Group.
Berthold Huber, Board Member for Infrastructure at Deutsche Bahn: “Saving electricity is the order of the day. Our new second-life battery storage systems offer a solution that is sustainable at the same time. This is attractive for all industries.”
Pilot Project in Berlin Since July
Starting in 2023, encore will begin the sales and series production of several hundred energy storage systems. An initial pilot project has been in operation since July 2022 at the EUREF Campus in Berlin. Additional storage systems are being built at various DB locations: including the ICE plant in Leipzig, the digital testing center in Scheibenberg (Saxony), and the train station in Zorneding, Bavaria.
In principle, all companies with high energy needs and a focus on renewable energies can benefit from the second-life storage systems.
Jason Jeong, President of Kia Europe: “As one of the leading brands in electromobility in Europe, Kia will expand its global portfolio of electric cars to 14 models by 2027. At the same time, we are investing in sustainable solutions for batteries after their first life in the vehicle. The pioneering partnership between Kia and DB shows that we view batteries as valuable resources in the context of a sustainable circular economy.”
Safety and Quality Analysis
encore receives the used batteries directly from Kia dealers, checks them, and subjects them to a safety and quality analysis. Battery modules with sufficient remaining capacity are converted into second-life battery storage systems, while non-usable batteries are sent to encore for proper recycling.
The Europe-wide transport of the batteries and new energy storage systems is primarily carried out by the logistics subsidiary DB Schenker and DB Cargo. Due to strict legal regulations for the transport and storage of battery storage systems, proper transportation is particularly complex, such as labeling and temperature regulation for the journeys.
Second Life for Old Batteries
Christian Moser, Global Solution Manager E-Mobility at DB Schenker: “Batteries are the backbone of the ongoing electrification of mobility worldwide. encore has developed an exciting solution to give old batteries a second life. We are pleased to support this innovation project with our service specifically focused on battery logistics.”
Photo: © Deutsche Bahn
