[RE-wrenches] Second Life Batteries

Thu Oct 19 19:49:44 EDT 2017

Form my vantage point….

Whether UL is involved in the re-purposing of Lithium Ion batteries or not, this will not reach to the DIY market for used batteries. With all the interest in saving money and the growing availability of wrecked EV's with good battery packs, this DIY battery issue is seeing explosive growth (pun intended). Really, I get calls weekly for advice. 

Just today I had a call from someone buying a wrecked Chevy Volt 18kWh battery pack. He said a “guy” takes these apart and makes 48 packs for people. That’s all he knew. He wanted us to build a PV solar charging system and connect to his cheap Li-ion battery. I was nice. NO WAY would I touch it.

People sometimes handle rattlesnakes. No matter how skilled you are, you might still get bit. Putting used lithium batteries in service is risky. Of course you can learn all about batteries and the risks and mitigate much it, but when will you KNOW  100% that a used battery is safe? Damage can happen to a Li battery that you can’t tell by testing. It seems to be normal but can burst into flames without any external action on it. This can happen to a damaged cell just sitting on a shelf.

You can find stories of people skilled with li-ion batteries that have had fires. All Li cells are Federally regulated by 49 CFR. Even though that regulation spells out sever penalties, thousands of batteries are being illegally shipped every day. I know this.

Here’s something for people to think about from the FAA: For “aggravated” hazmat violations—those that result in death, serious illness, severe injury or substantial destruction of property—the civil penalty to $182,877 per day, per violation. Just offering a Li-ion battery for shipment without the proper papers is a $20,000 fine per shipment.  How many eBay sellers know this?

Re-purposing - yes, with good understanding and extreme caution in the application.

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems

On Oct 19, 2017, at 2:05 PM, Drake <drake.chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org> wrote:

Hello Wrenches,

Here is feedback on the second life batteries from Morgan Hager, member of the group who will be working on the project. I sent her the information provided by the list, and asked for more information. Below is her reply.

*****************************************************************
Morgan Hager <8welloiledmachines at gmail.com>

Thanks for the battery feed back.  In anticipation of used EV batteries coming to the market in mass, UL has developed specifications for second life batteries.  I am not sure if they are complete yet, the goal was this year.  This is where I want to start before building.  There are also already commercial products available using repurposed 18650's so there must be some kind of benchmark or reference.  More research needed.

Also:

Here's a good article about this. Not the standards themselves however:

<https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2016/08/24/ul-working-to-ensure-used-ev-batteries-safely-re-purposed/?c=0&s=trending#383524bf1365>https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2016/08/24/ul-working-to-ensure-used-ev-batteries-safely-re-purposed/?c=0&s=trending#383524bf1365

One problem I see is that these standards are for a stationary application and we want to build a vehicle pack. Still seems a good place to start.

*******************************************************************

It looks like this isn't just a crazy way to blow ourselves up, but a technology that is in the wings.
any feedback would be welcome.

Cheers,

Drake

Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric LLC
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
NABCEP Certified Solar PV
740-448-7328