Identifying Valuable Second Lives for Retired-Lithium-Ion Batteries in Transportation Systems

The identification of high-value and high-impact secondary applications for retired lithium-ion batteries is critical as the number of electric vehicles on the road continues to increase. During the Phase I DOT SBIR program NanoSonic will evaluate second-use application concepts for retired vehicular lithium-ion batteries in economically valuable, second-use sectors of transportation. We are partnering with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) to assess the merit of integration in four areas: i) stationary transportation systems (i.e., Radar Speed Monitors, and Variable Message Displays); ii) Uninterrupted Power Supplies for Traffic Equipment in Remote Areas; iii) Lithium-Battery Solar Road Lights, and iv) Electric Bikes with V2I capabilities. During a possible Phase II program, we will verify the performance of the down-selected application by developing a prototype system that effectively and safely utilizes the post-vehicle Li-ion cells, and deliver an economically viable supply chain model based on the identified second-use market. Through this DOT program, NanoSonic aims to advance critical efforts in the U.S. to reclaim economic value in post vehicle Li-ion batteries.