The batteries from Nobina's own electric bus fleet that have been taken out of service will be installed in storage systems instead of being sent for early and costly recycling. Following a successful pilot project, the battery storage systems will be deployed in the countries where Nobina operates and run by the company to support the grid. In addition, local grids will be stabilised overall, and surplus electricity will be made available for trading on the spot market.
Fleet of more than 1,000 electric buses
Nobina is the largest bus fleet operator in the Nordic region, with operations in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. Each day, the company covers the equivalent of 23 laps around the globe, transporting around one million passengers. Its fleet includes over 1,000 electric buses out of a total of 5,000, with a combined battery capacity of approximately 500 MWh.
“We are proud of this partnership, which is developing new pioneering solutions that can positively influence both the entire industry and society. This sustainability initiative not only strengthens our operational resilience and lowers energy costs, but also reduces Europe's dependence on critical raw materials and helps stabilise local power grids – a truly circular and sustainable approach,” says Petra Hammarin, Director Business Development at Nobina.
Research project begins for the repair of old modules
“The resilience of society and the stability of public transport are becoming increasingly important – especially as the increase in electrification brings new challenges for system stability. Battery storage solutions with retired bus batteries could play a crucial role, both for competitiveness and for sustainability,” adds Hammarin.
Extend the lifespan of batteries
“We see great potential for Nobina to extend the lifespan of batteries through stationary storage applications when they are no longer suitable for use in vehicles. This provides a resource-efficient alternative to expensive recycling, which we believe removes batteries from circulation far too early,” says Dr. Nam Truong, CEO & Co-Founder of STABL Energy.
Large-scale storage with used EV batteries
“We can do pioneering work together here, set new standards for e-fleet operators across Europe and drive the energy transition. The resource-efficient use of batteries is also of immense strategic importance for Europe from a geopolitical point of view, because it enables us to strengthen the circular economy and reduce dependence on resources,” adds Truong.
Resource efficiency included: energy transition must be economically viable
The investment required to electrify fleets is significant. However, by using modular multilevel inverter technology – which enables battery storage systems to be built from second-life batteries – these costs can be partially offset through the continued use of the batteries, making the overall business more efficient. This presents an economically viable alternative to conventional recycling, which, when all associated processes are considered, remains both costly and unattractive.
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Aside from the fact that greenhouse gas emissions are already released during battery production, second-life applications ensure that the batteries continue to help reduce further CO₂ emissions throughout their extended use and until the end of their life. (hcn)
