The Audi Environment Foundation is carrying out a very interesting project to give the Audi e-tron batteries a second life. This key component of Audi’s 100% electric SUV is used to electrify pedicabs in India, an emerging country whose large cities have serious pollution problems.
One of the challenges facing the automotive industry when carrying out the transition process to electric mobility is what to do with electric car batteries once their useful life cycle has ended. The objective is clear, to give a second life to this key and main component of a fully electric vehicle. Audi is one of the big car companies working in this important field. Even more so when we are heading towards an era in which the battery electric car will be the leading technology.
The Audi Environment Foundation is working with the non-profit company Nunam to give a new life to the batteries of the Audi e-tron. Audi’s first 100% electric SUV will be key to launch three electric pedicabs in faraway India. Specifically, reused batteries from the fleet of Audi e-tron test vehicles that were used during the development process will be used.
Reuse modules made with high-voltage batteries
Nunam, a German-Indian start-up funded by the Audi Environment Foundation, is exploring how modules made from high-voltage batteries can be reused after the car’s life cycle and thus receive a second life. The three electric pedicab prototypes have already been developed. A development carried out in collaboration with the training team at the Audi headquarters in Neckarsulm (Germany).
It is planned that the electric pedicabs powered by second-life batteries hit the roads of India for the first time in a pilot project early next year 2023. There they will be made available to a non-profit organization.
The company continues to research and work on developing ways to use used batteries as second-life energy storage systems, thereby extending their useful life and using resources more efficiently. In this case, with a highly energy-dense battery and a low vehicle weight compared to an Audi e-tron, the electric motor does not have to be particularly powerful. Pedicab drivers in India do not make high-speed or long-distance trips.
electric pedicabs in india
It is true that electric-powered pedicabs are already popular in India. However, they currently use lead-acid batteries, which have a relatively short lifespan. The project that Nunam is working on will also focus on the energy used during the process of recharging the battery of these pedicabs. Solar charging stations will be used.
Solar charging stations make use of solar panels to use sunlight during the day to recharge the battery of an Audi e-tron, which acts as an intermediate storage unit. During the night, the stored energy is transferred to the pedicabs.
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