Carmaker announces plans to turn BMW i3 batteries into home energy storage kits
Carmaker announces plans to turn BMW i3 batteries into home energy storage kits (Image: BMW)
The world of electric vehicles and energy storage are becoming increasingly intertwined, after German carmaker BMW last week became the second major carmaker in as many months to announce plans to enter the home energy storage market.
BMW told delegates at the Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition 29 conference in Montreal last week it will use the high voltage batteries deployed in its i3 range of electric vehicles to create a new residential storage product in collaboration with German firm Beck Automation.
The BMW system will use new and second hand batteries from EVs, and will be available in a 22kWh or 33kWh sizes – powerful enough to keep the average home operating for 24 hours with no external generation.
In a statement BMW said the new storage system will allow BMW i customers to “more fully realise their commitment to sustainability” and take a step closer to energy independence. Customers will be able to store clean energy generated by rooftop solar panels, and protect their home against power outages from the grid, BMW said.
“The remarkable advantage for BMW customers in using BMW i3 batteries as a plug and play storage application is the ability to tap into an alternative resource for residential and commercial backup power, thus using renewable energy much more efficiently, and enabling additional revenues from the energy market,”
said Cliff Fietzek, manager for connected eMobility at BMW North America.
Read more: Business Green