- JLR has developed a new portable Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) using second-life batteries from Range Rover and Range Rover Sport PHEV models.
- The module, developed in collaboration with Allye Energy, is the first BESS using JLR batteries to be made available for sale.
- Each BESS utilizes seven second-life batteries and can store 270 kWh of energy.
- JLR’s engineering team will be the first to use the BESS, which is capable of fully charging up to nine Range Rover PHEV vehicles at once.
- The BESS will power over 1,000 hours of testing, saving more than 15,494 kg of CO2 emissions per year.
- The initiative demonstrates JLR’s commitment to circular economy principles, generating new value for EV batteries by reusing them for energy storage before they are recycled.
- This supports JLR’s Reimagine strategy to achieve net-zero carbon status across its supply chain, products, and operations by 2039.
JLR has joined forces with energy storage startup Allye Energy to create a new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to provide zero-emission power.
A single Allye MAX BESS contains seven second-life Range Rover and Range Rover Sport PHEV batteries, which are removed from the vehicles and placed into specialized racks without the need for additional processing. Each BESS can store 270 kWh of energy at full capacity, enough to power the average UK household for nearly a month.
The BESS is the first system utilizing second-life Range Rover batteries capable of charging up to nine Range Rover PHEVs at any time and is designed for easy recharging by plugging into any CCS-compatible JLR vehicle charger. In addition, multi-input connectivity via Powerlock connections allows it to be linked to renewable energy sources at fixed sites or locations without grid access.
The MAX BESS can serve as a replacement for diesel generators, which the automotive industry has traditionally relied on for power during vehicle launches, events, and testing in remote off-grid areas. JLR’s engineering team will be the first to use the new BESS to provide zero-emission charging during testing of the new Range Rover Electric, set to launch later this year.
An average diesel generator typically consumes 16 liters of fuel per hour, equivalent to 129.12 kg of CO2 emissions for three hours of use. JLR’s engineering team will use the BESS to power over 1,000 hours of testing, saving more than 15,494 kg of CO2 emissions annually—the equivalent of one passenger taking seven round-trip flights from London to New York.
The functional BESS weighs less than 3.5 tonnes, allowing it to be fully portable or stationary to provide energy storage for JLR retailers or sites. This could help JLR’s network of over 3,000 retailers better utilize renewable energy, such as solar, and act as an energy buffer to support rapid charging in locations where local grid connections may be limited. The module will also be commercially available for use outside of JLR.
As part of its Reimagine strategy, JLR is investing £15 billion in electrification by building a comprehensive EV ecosystem. This includes accounting for the full life cycle of EV batteries, one of the new circular business models JLR is exploring for energy storage and other purposes.
An example of how BESS is used in the development of the Range Rover Electric is the engineering team's continuous durability testing at remote off-road sites where only low-power connections are available, allowing only slow charging. Engineers can charge the BESS from a low-power source during testing and then transfer energy to the Range Rover Electric via rapid charging from the BESS, much faster than direct charging from the source.
Battery value chains are projected to grow by 30% annually from 2022 to 2030, reaching a value of over $400 billion. The supply of second-life batteries for stationary applications is expected to exceed 200 gigawatt-hours per year by 2030, creating a global value of over $30 billion.
Designed to the highest standards, JLR batteries can be safely used in low-energy situations once their state of health falls below electric vehicle requirements, which typically means 70-80% residual capacity. Following their second-life use, JLR will recycle the batteries so that raw materials can be recovered for reuse as part of a true circular economy.
François Dossa, Executive Director of Strategy and Sustainability at JLR, said: “Our Reimagine strategy is all about shifting our mindset to adopt circular rather than linear business models. This innovation and partnership with Allye demonstrate the value we can create by repurposing and reusing batteries, such as those from our Range Rover vehicles. We are creating new value from a used commodity that would otherwise go straight to recycling, keeping it in use longer and providing innovative solutions for storing renewable energy.”
Reuben Chorley, Sustainable Industrial Operations Director at JLR, said: “We are delighted to be working with Allye Energy on this next-generation sustainability project, which will help us demonstrate the potential of our circular supply chain ambitions. Developing projects like this for second-life batteries is crucial if we are to make sustainability real at JLR and move forward in achieving our goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2039.”
Jonathan Carrier, CEO of Allye, stated: “Our collaboration with JLR is an example of a shared commitment to sustainable innovation, bringing us closer to a future powered by clean energy solutions. The deployment of Range Rover PHEV batteries highlights Allye’s approach to integrating batteries from different models, with varying states of health and cell chemistries, for maximum efficiency and sustainability. The Allye team is grateful to Andrew Whitworth and the JLR battery business unit team for their commitment to closed-loop battery innovation. We look forward to continuing our partnership and the opportunity to give every JLR battery a chance for a second life through energy storage.”
This initiative builds on the previously announced collaboration with Wykes Engineering Ltd, where second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries are used in one of the UK’s largest energy storage systems, helping to balance the grid at a renewable energy park in Chelveston, Northamptonshire. The BESS created by Allye marks the first time JLR has reused Range Rover PHEV batteries for energy storage systems and serves as a precursor for Range Rover BEV batteries, which share the same modular structure.
