India’s First Second Life Battery UPS In Pune Takes Shape Via MG Motor, Vision Mechatronics

JSW MG Motor India, the JV between the JSW group and China’s SAIC Motors that has  strong portfolio of EVs for India has made a strong sustainability push for the batteries powering its EVs. And with good reason, considering how these sturdy batteries can increasingly be expected to outlast the vehicles they are designed for. While EV batteries can be replaced for reasons of performance , damage during accidents, transportation etc, these batteries retain a significant capacity to deliver a strong performance in situations that are not as exacting as electric mobility. Which is where the concept of second life batteries comes in, where these batteries are repurposed for other uses without compromising on the demands for safety or performance needed in these situations. And perhaps most importantly, enabling an upgrade from a more polluting option to Lithium ion batteries at a lower cost.

Continuing this momentum, the brand has announced – India’s first high-voltage (HV) second-life battery with a homegrown battery management system (BMS), in collaboration with Vision Mechatronics as part of Project Revive. This product, named as ReLive, is showcased at the prestigious Battery Show from October 3-5, 2024, at India Expo Mart, Noida.

This project marks the third pilot project for second-life battery applications from JSW MG Motor India, signaling its proactiveness in promoting circular economy and creating a sustainable EV ecosystem. The company is forging meaningful partnerships with organisations with a common goal of harnessing the potential of EV batteries beyond their primary lifespan. This project will initially be deployed as a UPS backup solution for an industrial facility in Pune, demonstrating the versatility and effectiveness of second-life EV batteries in large-scale energy storage.

Vision Mechatronics, a leading Indian technology company founded in 2015, which has made significant strides in the field of second life batteries, has played a key role in the development of this project. The product is designed with an indigenous battery management system (BMS), that is tailored for industrial use of various stationary applications, offering flexibility and efficiency. It includes advanced monitoring systems to ensure optimal battery performance and early detection of potential issues. It also comes with high safety standards with rigorous measures in place to protect against thermal runaway and other hazards.

Speaking to SaurEnergy, Gaurav Gupta, Chief Growth Officer at JSW MG Motor India said, “this is our 3^rd pilot project after Off grid Charging station with IIT Delhi and Batx and BESS unit deployed at Nainital schools with Lohum and Teri. This will be the 3^rd application which is first in Industry which will be useful for industrial application. The launch of this project, India’s first high-voltage second-life battery with an indigenous BMS, is indeed an innovation and marks a significant milestone in our sustainability journey. We look forward to seeing the transformative impact Project Revive will have in industrial energy storage application.”

Dr. Rashi Gupta, Managing Director, Vision Mechatronics, focused on making India’s first high voltage, second life battery, this project offers a platform to demonstrate their state of the art active balancing technology which helps balance out the mismatch between different battery cells. (Inter and Intra pack). “We see a great opportunity for the C&I sector to adopt these second life batteries as a solution to their high voltage requirements. With the sourcing cost eliminated, there is a strong business case for these in the C&I space. It’s a sweet spot between the new battery packs and EVs, and we expect this category to grow exponentially”.

Gaurav Gupta stresses that lower value, better impact, in terms of both the business efficiency and the environmental impact is a key aspect of this push for all stakeholders.

Dr Rashi Gupta added that as the experience with the initial pilots mature, they will be in a position to offer a more structured offering in the form of specific product and lifecycle warranties.