Dr. Mubenga’s Work & A Second Life to Used Batteries From Electric Vehicles

The University of Toledo recently published an article about Dr. tMubenga’s work on the “Bi-Level Equalizer”.  This is a battery management technology that can make use of batteries that the electric vehicle market considers “dead.” With the Bi-Level Equalizer, these batteries can be placed in service for utility-scale solar PV and similar green energy projects.

This technology lowers the cost of large battery storage arrays and allows them to have a longer life at a lower cost compared to other technologies.

“To reduce waste and ensure a sustainable future, electrical engineers at The University of Toledo are pioneering a second-life market for used batteries from electric and hybrid vehicles.

• When the battery in an electric vehicle needs to be replaced, dealerships get rid of it even though it still holds up to 80% of its capacity.
• These batteries are considered “waste” from an automotive perspective.
• But these batteries could become a treasure trove to other industries – especially green energy industries – that can make good use of the 80% remaining life of the batteries.

Research published in the journal Electricity shows how technology called the bilevel equalizer created at UToledo transforms used lithium-ion batteries into inexpensive energy storage and increases the lifetime of the batteries by 50%.

Dr. Ngalula Sandrine Mubenga, assistant professor of electrical engineering technology in the UToledo College of Engineering, is working to help reduce waste and ensure a sustainable future.

“The number of electric vehicles and hybrids on the road is increasing, and used batteries could really become a waste management issue,” said Dr. Ngalula Sandrine Mubenga, assistant professor of electrical engineering technology in the UToledo College of Engineering. “The concept of circular economy relies on the idea that the waste of one industry becomes the raw materials for another industry.(Billau, C, 2021)”

Source: Billau, C, 2021, “UToledo Technology Gives Second Life to Used Batteries From Electric Vehicles”, published by UToday, Engineering, and retrieved online March 22,2021 at  http://news.utoledo.edu/index.php/03_09_2021/utoledo-technology-gives-second-life-to-used-batteries-from-electric-vehicles