Barcelona, Spain (19 June 2023) – More than 170 0000 tons of batteries will have reached their end of life in 2030 in Europe alone. Extending their lifespan and feeding valuable materials back into the economy at the end of their life is crucial to reduce their environmental impact. Currently, technical, and industrial challenges remain to create an efficient, safe, and profitable process for the reuse of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. To face this issue, a consortium of eleven partners, including EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union, has kicked-off the BatteReverse project, enabling the next generation of battery reverse logistics.
The project aims to enhance data exchange, reduce assessment time, improve safety procedures, automate dismantling processes, optimise battery life assessments, and analyse various configurations for economic viability and sustainability. Through these objectives, the project aims to advance the circular economy of the EV battery value chain and a more conscious use of valuable resources. These outcomes will contribute to the sovereignty of the EU in the battery sector. BatteReverse targets to avoid the use of 3.691 tonnes/year of primary critical raw materials.
BatteReverse project aims to reduce battery identification time by improving data accessibility and exchange between stakeholders. The project plans to develop a Battery Data Space with a QR code labelling system, enabling faster identification of electric vehicle (EV) battery packs and modules. By connecting battery data points and engaging actors of the value change in data exchange, it aims to facilitate traceability and interoperability, which is currently lacking in the industry.
BatteReverse project focuses on reducing the time needed for assessing battery packs for reuse or recycling. BatteReverse plans to develop a universal diagnostics tool that combines discharge, state of health (SoH), and state of safety (SoS) characterization. By performing these assessments in one step, the project aims to shorten the classification time from 48 hours to 8 hours, allowing for quicker decisions on battery handling. Additionally, it aims to design a tool that can handle 80% of EV battery voltage ranges, reducing the need for custom tools for different battery types.
Led and coordinated by CEA (France), activities are carried out by Fundacio Eurecat (Spain), TES Recupyl SAS (France), Skoda Auto a.s., EIT Urban Mobility (Spain), Frontier Innovations EE (Greece), Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz – Poznański Instytut Technologiczny (Poland), Bax & Company (Spain), Betteries AMPS (Germany), and Denios SE (Germany). The European Union has dedicated four million euros to the 42-month project, funded under the Horizon Europe Programme.
Marianne Chami, project coordinator: “BatteReverse revolutionizes battery reverse logistics through efficient methods for discharge and diagnosis, safer packaging with monitoring, automated dismantling, and sorting via human-robot collaboration. It enables precise assessment of battery life for second-life applications using acoustic testing and machine learning. Additionally, a Battery Data Space improves identification with standardised labelling and passport features.”
The project’s objectives are strongly linked to the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the New Battery Regulation, helping to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy. Minimising the use of valuable resources and enhancing the longevity of electric vehicle (EV) batteries supports the EU’s energy transition and fosters a competitive industry.
