Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Nissan’s stylish street lamp puts old EV batteries back to work

Trevor Mogg
By
THE REBORN LIGHT 生まれ変わっても、人のために。 #TheRebornLight

Automakers are increasingly looking at ways to make use of so-called “second-life” batteries that are removed from electric vehicles (EVs) once their storage capacity falls below a certain level.

Recommended Videos

Despite degrading to a point where they’re no longer suitable for automotive use, the lithium-ion battery packs often still have usable capacity, allowing companies to explore various uses to prolong their life.

Related

Nissan, together with its affiliate 4R Energy Corporation, this week unveiled the “Reborn Light,” a solar-powered street lamp that uses old EV batteries from its electric Leaf car to store excess energy.

The 4.2-meter-tall light, which sports a rather striking design when you compare it to regular street lamps, holds the battery in its base, while the solar panel sit at the top, just above the LED light.

The system is off-grid, so if a disaster like an earthquake knocks out the central power supply for a populated area, Nissan’s lights can keep on burning brightly, helping communities to continue navigating the streets through the dark nights.

As part of a trial, the Japanese automaker is planning to install the Reborn Light in Namie, a town devastated by the 2011 Tohoku disaster that included the meltdown at the nearby Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Should the trial prove successful, Nissan believes its technology has huge potential, with lighting just the first step in a number of possible applications for its aging EV batteries.

“Still today, 17 percent of the world’s population live without electricity,” the company says on its website. “Reused EV battery and lighting have the potential to change the lives of people in Japan and the world.”

It adds: “Even when batteries no longer serve to power cars, they can be reborn to keep serving humans.”

Nissan is by no means the only automaker to be exploring uses for older EV batteries. BMW, for example, used 2,600 used EV battery modules from 100 cars to build a 2.8mWh storage system at a charging station in Hamburg, Germany, which can be used as an energy source for peak demand periods. And Renault has also put them to use on its so-called “smart island” in Portugal.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Trevor Mogg
Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Leaf electric-car batteries can outlast vehicles by up to 12 years, Nissan claims
Nissan Leaf

When modern electric cars first hit showrooms in large numbers about a decade ago, one of the biggest questions about them was battery life. But Nissan hopes to finally put those doubts to rest. After reviewing data from its Leaf electric cars, the automaker now believes batteries will outlast the vehicles they're installed in by 10 to 12 years, Francisco Carranza, head of Renault-Nissan Energy Services, said at the recent Automotive News Europe World Congress.

Nissan monitors everything from charging patterns to battery degradation on more than 400,000 Leaf electric cars sold in Europe since 2011 (the first U.S. Leaf was delivered in December 2010), Carranza said. He added that the average life of a car is 10 years, but he estimated the average life of its onboard battery pack at 22 years. Batteries still tend to lose some of their capacity after they age, but it takes a long time for them to lose so much capacity that they become completely useless. Carranza didn't say what the anticipated rate of degradation was.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5: Should you wait for the Rivian R2?
Rivian R2

Rivian has taken the wraps off of the Rivian R2, an electric SUV that's similar to the much-loved R1S, but smaller and, crucially, cheaper. But the R2 goes up against some serious competition. The likes of Hyundai have been building solid EVs for some time now -- including the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The R2 and the Ioniq 5 each make a compelling case for themselves, and they're likely to end up being similarly priced if the Ioniq 5 doesn't get much cheaper and the R2 does end up being sold at $45,000. To be fair, the cars are pretty different -- the R2 is more of an SUV, while the Ioniq 5 is much more crossover-sized. But because of their similar price, you might be deciding between the two. How do they compare? We put the Rivian R2 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 head-to-head.
Design
The differences between the Rivian R2 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are perhaps no more apparent than when it comes to design.

Read more
The 6 best remote car starters in 2024
Best car remote starters

While some modern vehicles come standard with remote start features, it's still relatively uncommon. That's a shame because if you live somewhere where cold weather, snow, and ice are frequent concerns, a remote car starter is one of the best auto accessories you can have. If you're not familiar with them, a remote car starter works similarly to a key fob, except it will actually start your car from a distance instead of just unlocking the doors or trunk. That means you can start your car from the warm comfort of your home or office before venturing out. If you live somewhere hot, you can even start your car and let the AC run for a little bit. You'll never enter a freezing cold or scorching hot vehicle again.

The best remote car starters have long ranges, replaceable batteries, and other handy features — but how do you know which is best for you? We’ve compiled a list of the best car starters in a range of prices and features. Keep in mind that while you can install some yourself, some will require a professional.
The best remote car starters in 2024

Read more