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Panasonic To Offer Li-Ion Batteries for In-Home Use

 
6 2,090 views December 30, 2009

Panasonic Li-Ion EV battery

Panasonic Li-Ion EV battery

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With our site focusing primarily on electric and hybrid cars and other forms of transportation, we are well versed in the ongoing discussion of afterlife for automotive lithium-ion batteries.  Many suggest that once batteries are incapable of use within a vehicle that they should be put to use elsewhere, perhaps as an energy storage device within a home.  The idea makes sense.  Batteries are typically deemed unsuitable for use in vehicles after their performance and storage capacity drops below about 80% of its original numbers.  This means that the batteries are used, but far from used up.

So why not take the batteries and employ them within your home.  They can hold the charge of energy obtained from solar roof panels or wind turbines and effectively provide energy to power either portions of your home or your entire home.

The idea is sound, except few people will have access to  advanced automotive batteries available for home use until these batteries reach their end of life cycle about 10 years from now.  So what can be done from now until then for those eager to employ advanced batteries as an energy solution for their home?

Panasonic has provided the answer.  Beginning in 2011, the company will offer lithium-ion batteries tailored for in-home use.  The battery was developed by Sanyo, a company recently acquired by Panasonic.  Both companies are working together to bring the in-home batteries to market quickly and are expected to make a more detailed announcement regarding the specifics of the program early next year.

Source:  PhysOrg via AutoBlogGreen





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Comments (6)

  1. By  Todd Horst Posted: 12/30/2009 6:48am PST

    I dont have solar panels (YET), but it would simply be worth it to charge at night and use during the day when my rate doubles. Then when i do get solar/turbine, i could switch to that being the charging method instead of plugging in. Awesome.
     
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  2. By Chris O Posted: 12/30/2009 11:32am PST

    These should be cheap batteries with low energy density then. Cheap because they will have to compete with other relatively cheap/low energy density chemistries like LiFePo4. Low energy density because if they can compete in price with LiFePo4 yet have higher energy density it would seem more economic to use them in transport where they could replace expensive fossil fuels rather than at home where they would presumably merely substitute cheap power from the grid.
     
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  3. By jeffhre Posted: 12/30/2009 3:40pm PST

    Todd,
    Would it be more cost effective to run the house on solar during peak, most costly hours and use grid power in the wee hours for something like a plug in hybrid when the costs are lowest?
    How much will a new battery help, vs installing solar panels or replacing gasoline with solar/night time electricity or doing both?
     
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  4. By  jvc battery Posted: 6/27/2010 6:39pm PDT

    Does it cost a lot of money?
     
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  5. By  high quality Posted: 8/8/2010 9:02pm PDT

    Why? This means that the batteries are used, but far from used up
     
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  6. By  sony cyber-shot Posted: 8/22/2010 6:28pm PDT

    That looks very good!BUt How much will a new battery help and cost?
     
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