Whereas electrical vehicles provide the potential of extraordinarily low-emission operation, that is just one a part of the inexperienced equation. Automakers are searching for methods to guarantee that the manufacturing and afterlife of EVs are environmentally pleasant. A type of methods is to search out makes use of for previous batteries. Audi, in collaboration with nonprofit startup firm Nunam, is an attention-grabbing risk: electrical rickshaws.
The rickshaw you see within the gallery is powered by battery modules from Audi E-Tron electrical SUVs. Particularly, they’re from take a look at prototype examples. Because the co-founder of Nunam, Prodip Chatterjee, notes, whereas the batteries is probably not perfect for automotive use anymore, they’re nonetheless superb in a low-power, light-weight automobile reminiscent of a rickshaw. Moreover, whereas electrical rickshaws aren’t unusual in India, the place these might be examined, they’re primarily powered by lead-acid batteries. The E-Tron lithium ion batteries provide higher power density and probably higher longevity. Audi and Nunam may also be potential third-life makes use of for these batteries for stationary energy storage, presumably for lighting.
Solely three of the rickshaws have been constructed to date. Nunam might be offering them to an area nonprofit group that helps girls make and promote items with out counting on different intermediaries. As such, the rickshaws might be used for transporting these items round. Moreover, a photo voltaic panel charging system might be offered to make charging emission-free. Through the day, the panels will cost yet one more E-Tron battery, and when the rickshaws return on the finish of the day, they will cost off of the electrical energy saved in that different battery.
The rickshaws will go into use early subsequent 12 months. Nunam might be monitoring the use and battery situation to study extra concerning the traits of those previous batteries and the viability for these second-life use circumstances.
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