Skip to main content

Connected Energy and Renault to collaborate on EV charging technology

Renault and Connected Energy are partnering to develop sustainable and efficient ways of using electric vehicle batteries at the end of their useable in-vehicle life in order to supply innovative and more affordable electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. At the end of their useful in-vehicle life, Renault EV batteries still have considerable remaining capacity, which means that they can continue to give great service in other applications before they are ultimately recycled. Through its E-STOR te
February 5, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
Renault and Connected Energy are partnering to develop sustainable and efficient ways of using electric vehicle batteries at the end of their useable in-vehicle life in order to supply innovative and more affordable electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions.

At the end of their useful in-vehicle life, Renault EV batteries still have considerable remaining capacity, which means that they can continue to give great service in other applications before they are ultimately recycled.

Through its E-STOR technology, Connected Energy is offering a highly innovative solution to this conundrum through use of ‘second life’ Renault EV batteries.

E-STOR technology can be used to store energy generated from on-site renewable generation resources such as solar panels and wind turbines, and then release it as it’s needed at a later time. The system also allows the batteries to be charged via low-cost off-peak electricity tariffs, enabling users to reduce their energy costs.

The first E-STOR product is nominally rated at 50kW/50kWhr which could typically be used to support one rapid charger or a cluster of fast chargers but the system is fully scalable and higher capacity units are planned.

In addition to allowing more efficient use of energy, the system can also enable installation of rapid electric vehicle charging at sites where the electricity supply would traditionally only allow slower rates. Instead of charging vehicles via a high-capacity supply directly from the grid, E-STOR allows multiple batteries to be charged at a slower rate over a period of time, ready to release their energy and charge a car when an EV driver needs it.

Matthew Lumsden, managing director, Connected Energy, said: “E-STOR will enable the more cost-effective roll-out of electric vehicles in commercial and industrial settings, thus increasing the overall sustainability of this clean form of transport.    With Renault we have secured the supply of second life batteries for future E-STOR installations.”

Eric Feunteun, electric vehicle program director, Renault, commented: "The second life application of Renault electric vehicle batteries supports Renault’s commitment to the energy transition in the automotive industry. Through E-STOR, EV owners can charge their car at reduced costs with electricity that is less carbon-dependent. It makes driving an EV a smart and even more sustainable transportation solution. With this energy management technology, EVs and their batteries become an asset for the grid rather than create overload.”

Related Content

  • December 15, 2020
    Peachtree installs solar roadway system
    US city's solution will produce more than 1,300 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year
  • May 5, 2016
    ITS innovations – a change for the better?
    Josef Czako takes a look at what the future developments may hold for both the transport sector and society. As the dust of the 2015 World Congress in Bordeaux settles, we can begin to see more clearly some of the most important future innovations in ITS are starting to be linked together: mobility as a service (MaaS), mobility pricing and autonomous vehicles. They all are based on global trends, like digitalisation, automation and servitisation.
  • May 10, 2018
    Poterra launches high power interoperable EV charging technology
    Electric vehicle (EV) firm Poterra has released three high-power charging options which it claims will make a completely electric bus fleet in North America more achievable. The new products are intended to be compatible with J1772 CCS plug-in, as well as J3105 inverted and roof-mounted overhead charging systems. The company says the systems are capable of bi-directional, vehicle-to-grid power flow.
  • April 1, 2021
    Rhombus helps V2G school bus deployment 
    Blue Bird school buses will be involved in Vehicle to Grid production deployment