SAIC-GM-Wuling builds energy storage power station from retired electric vehicle batteries

The growing number of electric vehicles on China’s roads has created the new challenge of what to do with used batteries. SAIC-GM-Wuling has introduced a solution that is extending the life of its electric vehicle batteries to benefit society.

GM’s joint venture recently put into operation Guangxi province’s first cascading energy storage power station utilizing retired electric vehicle batteries at the company’s Baojun base in Liuzhou. The facility stores wind and solar energy as well as energy from the grid generated during non-peak hours for use by the grid to relieve pressure during peak hours of consumption.

The power station is using old batteries from the development of SAIC-GM-Wuling’s Baojun E100 and E200 electric vehicles. The facility has up to 1,000 kWh of storage capacity, with a rated power of 250 kW.