Repurposing – a second life for batteries

Reuse of high-voltage batteries at the end of their life cycle in buses/coaches

Repurpose can extend the life cycle of high-voltage batteries by, for example, continuing to use them as stationary energy storage units after vehicle use.

Environmental protection through the circular economy
As a globally active enterprise, Daimler Buses focuses on improving the quality of life and the environment in the relevant markets and is consistently driving forward the decarbonization of its products. By 2039, all new vehicles and production should be completely “CO2e-neutral”*. An important component of this strategy is Repurpose - the reuse of high-voltage batteries after their use in the vehicle.

_{*CO2e-neutral means that CO2e emissions released into the atmosphere by a company’s activities must be compensated by offsetting a corresponding amount of CO2e. Compensation can be achieved in various ways: Reduction of emissions, reduction of energy consumption, conversion to renewable energies or similar, or through CO₂ storage or absorption.}

High-voltage batteries for electric buses have more than one life

At the end of their first life cycle, high-voltage batteries are removed from Mercedes-Benz electric buses in order to continue to be used in a second life outside the vehicle. These batteries are not only a central component of the technology, but also contain valuable raw materials. With the so-called “R strategies”, Daimler Buses pursues the objective of a closed loop: efficient reuse of materials, conservation of resources and further reduction of environmental impacts.

Second life outside the bus
If a high-voltage battery can no longer be used in the vehicle, its life cycle is far from over. Use in repurpose applications is significantly more resource-efficient than direct recycling and makes an active contribution to the circular economy. 

After the “first life” in the bus, the batteries are usually still in very good condition and therefore too valuable to recycle immediately. Instead, their remaining capacity is used further - for example as universally usable storage in solar or wind farms. For individual solutions, Daimler Buses Solutions supports as a partner in all relevant aspects of the conversion of the bus fleet to electric mobility.

This form of reuse saves resources and actively contributes to the transition to a sustainable circular economy.