One of the great fears surrounding widespread adoption of electric cars is that Mother Earth (or her landfills) will never be able to digest all the zapped batteries once the cars are removed from service. BMW anticipated that concern well before its i-cars were introduced and has been collaborating with universities, national labs, and utilities since 2009 to develop a remedy. At the recent Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition in Montreal, BMW announced its solution: an energy storage system (ESS) that recycles i3 battery cells for static use at home.
Two capacities, 22 kWh or 33 kWh, will be offered when these systems go on sale next year, both housed within a 38-by-65-by-7?inch enclosure. The smaller ESS weighs 511 pounds, the larger one weighs 551 pounds. Each contains a voltage converter and power electronics to maintain a peaceful connection between the ESS, home wiring, and renewable energy sources such as a wind generator or roof-mounted solar panels.
Brand new lithium-ion cells or “second-life” (used) batteries that once powered an i3 serve as the power storage medium. In addition to providing backup electricity during outages, the ESS can be used to recharge an electric car. They?re programmed to draw power from the grid to recharge their own batteries when electric rates are low.
BMW will announce prices and warranty terms when these systems reach the market, but a similar unit sold by Beck Automation in Germany offers a 10-year warranty for the...