Germany / China - Daimler AG subsidiary, Mercedes-Benz Energy GmbH and Beijing Electric Vehicle Co Ltd (BJEV), a subsidiary of BAIC Group, have entered a development partnership, intending to establish second-life energy storage systems in China. The partnership seeks to consolidate expertise and resources regarding the value-chain of automotive battery systems, while laying the groundwork for a sustainable renewable energy development. The partners plan to establish the first second-life energy storage unit in Beijing, making use of retired BJEV electric car batteries. This project will serve as the basis for other types of co-operation in the future.

Gordon Gassmann, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Energy, said: "The extension of regenerative and thus high-fluctuation energy production is rapidly increasing worldwide. The tendency towards increasing distances between the site of energy production and the site of energy consumption also means huge challenges for today's energy grids. This is creating wide-ranging opportunities for stationary energy storage systems worldwide. 2nd-life battery storage units are a very sensible supplement, as with the further utilisation of disused car batteries we are also making sustainable use of valuable raw materials."