450 e-bike batteries from micromobility company Voi have been given a second life to power wireless environmental monitoring stations which track external factors such as water, soil and air.
By upcycling the batteries this has prevented 25 tonnes of CO2 emissions from being released.
This has been made possible by a three-way partnership between Voi, French battery management startup Bib Batteries, and Polish battery upcycling company Manufacturing Partners.
It comes after Bib Batteries and Manufacturing Partners teamed up with Dott last year to give 1,200 e-scooter batteries a second life by powering an electric boat.
“In the micromobility sector, we find that batteries sent for recycling still have on average between 70 and 80% of their residual capacity. Bib’s mission is to enable these batteries to be reused. We’re delighted to have been able to help Voi extend the life of these batteries,” Bib Co-founder and CEO Pierre-Amans Lapeyre told Zag Daily.
Once out of the e-bike, the batteries are disassembled and the cells are tested to determine their remaining capacities and assess what new use they can best serve. In powering wireless environment monitoring stations, the batteries are expected to last up to three years.
Upcycling the batteries is one of three options. Alternatively, batteries can be repaired – what Lapayre says is the most eco-friendly but not always economical option – or they can be recycled which is an energy intensive process where batteries are crushed to recover materials for new batteries.
“Being able to choose the right option enables fleet operators to bring more sustainability to mobility,” Lapeyre said.
Sarah Badoux, Head of Sustainability at Voi, said: “At Voi, we adopt a circular economy approach to reduce the impact of our service and activities. Making the most out of every vehicle, including giving batteries a second life, is a crucial step in Voi’s Environmental Action Plan.”
All of Voi’s batteries are either recycled or given a second life, Sarah said. This can be through programmes such as this one, or Voi Resell which is the operator’s platform for selling decommissioned vehicles and batteries.
