As demand for electric vehicles grows, the number of used batteries will increase significantly. Nissan hopes that by reclaiming these batteries, it can help lower battery replacement costs and heighten the used-car value of electric vehicles.
Nissan has built a EV battery remanufacturing facility in Namie, Japan - small town near the Fukushima nuclear power plant destroyed by a tsunami in 2011. This is a first factory in Japan specializing strictly in recycling of used lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles. The 4R Energy Corp. is a joint venture with Sumitomo, according to Reuters. "By reusing spent EV batteries, we wanted to raise the (residual) value of EVs and make them more accessible," says Eiji Makino, CEO. Helpful tips for Homeowners
Nissan will initially offer 24-kilowatt-hour refabricated batteries for 300,000 yen apiece, with plans to expand the lineup. Exchange costs for brand-new Nissan LEAF batteries are 650,000 yen for 24 kWh; 800,000 yen for 30 kWh; and 820,000 yen for 40 kWh.
Nissan LEAF battery replacement plan
The 24 kWh refabricated batteries for the Generation 1 LEAFs will be offered for around $2,850 in US dollars. That’s less than half the price of a brand new 24 kWh pack ≈$6,200 . Nissan will try to repurpose used EV battery modules for energy storage systems.
Interesting is that a brand new 40 kWh battery costs just a little more than the 30 kWh unit. 40 kWh stands at 820,000 yen (around $7,800) – for the modules we believe.
Nissan LEAF Battery Degradation
EV battery life is often a big concern for potential buyers. Electric car battery packs inevitably lose some of their battery capacity over time after some use. It’s generally fairly limited to a few percentage points, but when it comes to the Nissan LEAF, some owners have been experiencing more significant degradation.
According to Fred Lambert at Electrek, "Nissan Leaf might be to blame since it had a lot of issues in that regard, which is why Nissan has a much more comprehensive battery capacity warranty now and the company is looking at new programs to address the issue, like this one."
About GreenTec Auto
GreenTec Auto is a family owned and operated business specializing in rebuilding hybrid batteries. Originally based in the Sacramento, California area since 2009, GreenTec Auto has expanded to nine shops around the United States. Combined with 35 years of general automotive experience, GreenTec Auto knows your hybrid vehicle from the end to end. For more information, visit www.greentecauto.com.
