Ionity’s battery strategy in Europe

Ionity, a fast-charging network for electric vehicles, plans to install battery storage systems at around 50 stations across Europe starting in 2027. This initiative aims to bypass the delays in upgrading the electrical grid, which can take years to reinforce, by using stored energy to increase charging capacity at each station.

Battery system in Wertheim

In Wertheim, Germany, Ionity has already installed a battery system from the Chinese company Sungrow with a capacity of 1,028 kWh. This system allows the station to increase its number of charging points from four to six, with two more planned, without waiting for grid improvements that could take up to three years.

Future projects and renewable integration

Ionity plans to deploy approximately 50 battery storage systems in Europe by 2027, with a total capacity exceeding 20 megawatt-hours. One upcoming project in Hemsbach, Germany, will include twelve charging points, a solar panel installation of over 223 kWc, and a battery larger than 2 MWh. The solar power generated can be stored and used later to power the charging points.

Growing market for used batteries

The strategy aligns with a growing market for used automotive batteries. According to Felix Wagner of Circunomics, a company specializing in reusing old batteries, the used battery market could grow to 10 to 20% of the size of the new electric vehicle battery market in the next five years, driven by older models like the Renault Zoé and Nissan Leaf reaching the end of their lifespans.

Challenges in reusing used batteries

Not all used batteries are suitable for stationary storage, such as in Ionity’s stations. Stationary storage requires large numbers of identical battery modules with similar performance levels, while used batteries come from different vehicles with varying conditions. Around 50 to 60% of reusable batteries might be suitable for stationary storage, while 30% would go directly to recycling. Ionity has not yet announced plans to use second-life batteries in its stations.