第1873期:Companies Seek to Profit from Old EV Batteries

A number of companies have been established to provide a second life for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. But industry experts say such businesses could face major difficulties, even as the EV market continues to grow. Reuters news agency reports nearly 50 startup companies have been launched with the aim of buying used EV batteries and reselling them to be used for new purposes. In addition, large carmakers, such as Mercedes and Nissan, have set up their own operations to give EV batteries a second life. The companies’ founders believe they can find new purposes for used EV batteries from vehicles. The businesses will seek batteries that have been in use for eight to 10 years. The capacity of EV batteries generally falls below 80 to 85 percent during those years. Then, the companies will repurpose the batteries and sell them.

许多公司已经成立，为电动汽车（EV）电池提供第二次生命。 但行业专家表示，即使电动汽车市场持续增长，此类企业也可能面临重大困难。路透社报道称，已有近 50 家初创公司成立，旨在购买废旧电动汽车电池并将其转售以用于新用途。 此外，梅赛德斯和日产等大型汽车制造商已经建立了自己的业务，为电动汽车电池提供第二次生命。这些公司的创始人相信他们可以找到废旧电动汽车电池的新用途。 这些企业将寻求已经使用八到十年的电池。 在这些年里，电动汽车电池的容量通常会下降到 80% 至 85% 以下。 然后，这些公司将重新利用电池并出售它们。

But experts say there is currently a shortage of old EV batteries and this situation is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. One reason for this is that many people are keeping their vehicles for a longer time. Financial research company S&P Global Mobility notes that EV vehicle owners in the United States are keeping their cars a record 12.5 years. This suggests to experts that many EVs will also stay on the road for years to come even if their batteries are working below capacity. Hans Eric Melin is the creator of advisory company Circular Energy Storage, which follows battery sales and prices. He told Reuters the idea "that EV batteries are only going to last eight-to-10 years and then owners would swap them out is just not true." Melin added, "It's going to be tricky to make second-life work."

但专家表示，目前旧电动汽车电池短缺，预计这种情况在可预见的未来将持续下去。 原因之一是许多人保留车辆的时间更长。金融研究公司 S&P Global Mobility 指出，美国电动汽车车主的汽车保有时间达到创纪录的 12.5 年。 这向专家表明，即使电池工作低于容量，许多电动汽车也将在未来几年内继续行驶。汉斯·埃里克·梅林 (Hans Eric Melin) 是循环能源存储咨询公司的创始人，该公司跟踪电池销售和价格。 他告诉路透社，“电动汽车电池只能持续八到十年，然后车主就会更换它们”的想法是不正确的。 梅林补充道：“让第二人生继续下去会很棘手。”

Elmar Zimmerling is the business development manager for automotive at German second-life battery startup Fenecon. He told Reuters that since many EVs built 10 years ago remain in use, there is currently "no market for second-life batteries." But he predicted a flood of used batteries within the next five years. Another issue is that competition from companies using EV batteries to power everything from gasoline-powered vehicles to boats have driven prices up for used batteries. Circular Energy Storage estimates this pushed prices to $235 per kilowatt hour in late 2022. This is about double the price major carmakers pay for new batteries.

Elmar Zimmerling 是德国二次电池初创公司 Fenecon 的汽车业务开发经理。 他告诉路透社，由于许多 10 年前生产的电动汽车仍在使用，目前“二次电池没有市场”。 但他预测未来五年内废旧电池将大量涌现。另一个问题是，使用电动汽车电池为从汽油动力汽车到船舶等各种产品提供动力的公司的竞争导致废旧电池的价格上涨。 Circular Energy Storage 估计，这会将价格推至 2022 年底每千瓦时 235 美元。这大约是主要汽车制造商购买新电池价格的两倍。

One example is the long-range Tesla Model 3, which has a 75 kilowatt hour battery. At the estimated rate, the Tesla battery would cost $17,625 on the used market. Some experts say it could even be more profitable for companies to sell needed battery elements rather than whole batteries. "The ... question is, if you have pretty valuable raw materials in a battery and you ask 'how can I get the most out of it?'” said Thomas Becker. He is the head of sustainability at German carmaker BMW. The company has a second-life battery storage facility at its Leipzig plant. The answer, Becker said, “is recycling might be better."

一个例子是长续航特斯拉 Model 3，其电池容量为 75 千瓦时。 按照估计，特斯拉电池在二手市场上的售价为 17,625 美元。一些专家表示，对于公司来说，销售所需的电池元件而不是整个电池可能更有利可图。“问题是，如果你的电池中有非常有价值的原材料，你会问‘我怎样才能充分利用它？’”托马斯·贝克尔说。他是德国汽车制造商宝马的可持续发展主管。 该公司在莱比锡工厂设有二次电池存储设施。贝克尔说，答案是“回收可能会更好。”