The ever increasing popularity of electric vehicles means that one day we’re going to have mountains of used batteries with few ways to use them.

Of course, batteries can be partially recycled but it’s an expensive and difficult process. That’s why the latest move from Jaguar is rather interesting.

The vehicle maker has worked with Pramac to develop a zero-emission energy storage unit that is made up of Jaguar I-PACE batteries.

The solution is called the Off Grid Battery Energy Storage System or simply the ESS and features one and a half Jaguar I-PACE batteries. Jaguar refers to these batteries as second-life batteries but that’s marketing speak for “used”.

“To showcase its capability, the unit helped Jaguar TCS Racing prepare for the 2022 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship during testing in the UK and Spain, where it was used to run the team’s cutting-edge diagnostic equipment analysing the race cars’ track performance, and to supply auxiliary power to the Jaguar pit garage,” Jaguar explained in a press release.

The system has a total capacity of 125kWh which Jaguar says is enough to fully charge an I-PACE SUV or, a family home using 72.3kWh per week.

The batteries can be charged using solar power to create a self contained power system. For now the system is only available for commercial hire but perhaps in future we will see the system reach consumers.

“We have been privileged to work so closely with Jaguar Land Rover who are a hugely supportive partner in our journey to successfully build a robust product and a commercially viable business case using second-life EV modules. This brings a new element to the sustainability story as a manufacturer of energy efficient and carbon reducing technology. We look forward to continuing the journey with Jaguar Land Rover and providing innovative charging infrastructure solutions to support the electrification of their class-leading vehicles,” director of Pramac, Danny Jones said in a statement.

Jaguar goes on to say that its batteries are perfectly suited for low-energy applications when they are retired from vehicles.

Our only question is when we will see the ESS outside of Formula E. Coming off of a fresh bought of loadshedding the ESS sounds just like the sort of solution we need here in South Africa.