TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) -The University of Alabama is leading research into the possibility of extending the life of eclectic vehicle batteries.
In their efforts, UA is teaming up with Alabama Power and Mercedes to develop and demonstrate ways to extend the use of electric car batteries. It starts with the U.S. Department of Energy which is supplying the four million dollars needed to fund the study. The goal is to find ways to use older EV batteries, according to UA leaders.
One study shows by 2030 30% of new car sales across the country will be electric cars, so the research is coming at a perfect time. The head of the AMP Center at UA says they have a certain amount of time to complete their study.
“Well, the research is really focused on second use batteries, so if you think of your cell phone or laptop, the battery starts to degrade over time but at some point it still has a useful life but not in that application, so what we’re looking at is applications for second use batteries that help bolster the grid and really provide solutions to EV charges. We have about a three-year time span to be able to do all this research. Of course, we’re hoping for results along the way that really helps and shapes our future research,” said the UA AMP Center’s Executive Director Michael Oatridge.
UA says it was one of 10 recipients to receive this federal grant to study the possible use of extending the life of an electric car battery.
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