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EnerDel Will Develop Batteries for Residential Smart Grid Storage Project Near Tokyo By SGN Staff Jan 19, 2010 - 2:59:45 PM
Fans and critics of using EV batteries as storage for the Smart Grid will want to keep their eyes on EnerDel's Tokyo residential Smart Grid energy storage project with long-time partner ITOCHU Corporation. EnerDel's batteries will be used for both high-speed EV charging and as storage for the local electric grid. If it works out well, EnerDel stands to benefit from what could be a secondary market for its car batteries — which would reduce battery cost and probably give the EV market a serious boost.
Indianapolis-based lithium-ion battery manufacturer EnerDel will join forces again with the real estate division of ITOCHU Corporation, a giant Japanese industrial trading company, to develop and make advanced battery systems for a residential Smart Grid storage project near Tokyo.
The system will involve linking renewable energy, high-speed EV charging and the local electric grid. It will be located in a large five-story apartment building near Tokyo. Basically, EnerDel will develop batteries that can be used to power EVs and also help supply the electric grid with its remaining capacity, also known as secondary use.
"These are the first projects anywhere in the world to bring all the critical elements of a smart, sustainable network that connects renewable energy and transportation in the places where people live and work," said EnerDel Chief Operating Officer Naoki Ota. "It will also demonstrate that EnerDel's lithium-ion battery systems are equally capable, whether it is in a car or a stationary grid application."
Charles Gassenheimer, chairman and CEO of Ener1, EnerDel's parent company, commented, "We are pushing hard to develop a secondary market for automotive grade lithium-ion batteries. I believe this secondary market will be a key enabler to reducing battery costs for automotive buyers and accelerating the growth of the market for electric powered vehicles."
Residents are expected to begin moving into the building in early 2011. ITOCHU obviously is committed to the project's promise. It intends to incorporate the secondary use system in 20% of its new apartment buildings.
EnerDel and ITOCHU are working together on another similar system with car maker Mazda. The two projects will provide information on long-term performance on new stationary battery systems in real-time and also illustrate that once car batteries have lived through their more wearing automotive life cycle they can be used for grid storage.
Analysts have suggested that this secondary market for lithium-ion batteries could become two to three times larger than the automotive market.
EnerDel received a Smart Grid stimulus grant in August 2009 to increase its production capacity.
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