Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution Launch Demonstration Project for EV Battery ESS Utilization

UBESS Demonstration Linked to EV Fast Charging Stations Using Used Batteries

Storing Electricity During Off-Peak Hours, Fast Charging During Peak Times

Optimizing Charging Infrastructure Operations Expected

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, in collaboration with LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Engineering, and Wonik PNE, are launching a full-scale demonstration project to repurpose used electric vehicle (EV) batteries as energy storage systems (ESS) under the 'UBESS (Used Battery Energy Storage System)' initiative.

The five companies—Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Engineering, and Wonik PNE—announced on September 10 at the Wonik PNE Dongtan plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, that they held a ceremony commemorating cooperation on the 'UBESS Demonstration Based on Used EV Batteries.' They stated that they will begin validating a next-generation ESS business model utilizing used batteries in earnest.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Yangjae Office Building. Hyundai Motor Group

The event was attended by Woongtae Hwang, Head of EV Energy Strategy Division at Hyundai Motor Company & Kia; Seungtak Joo, EaaS Business Director of the ESS Division at LG Energy Solution; Sanghoon Lee, Asset Planning Division Head at Hyundai Engineering; and Cheolho Kim, Head of Development/Production Division at Wonik PNE’s EV Charger Business. Representatives from each company celebrated the demonstration partnership and discussed ways to further materialize their collaboration.

This demonstration project marks the first domestic case of utilizing used battery packs from Hyundai Motor Company & Kia’s dedicated EV platform, the E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform). The demonstration facility is equipped with a UBESS system with a total capacity of 200 kWh (kilowatt-hours). Notably, this UBESS system operates in conjunction with an EV fast charger. Electricity is stored in the UBESS during off-peak (low-rate) periods, and then used to charge EVs through a fast charger during peak (high-rate) periods.

Hyundai Motor Company & Kia are working to develop technology verification and a business model that enables the safe and efficient reuse of used batteries. LG Energy Solution will manufacture UBESS using the used battery packs provided by Hyundai Motor Company & Kia, while supporting performance and safety verification of the system based on its battery diagnostics and management technology capabilities.

Hyundai Engineering will, based on its EV charging infrastructure operation experience, evaluate the business feasibility in real-world conditions and examine the connection between the project and EV charging infrastructure (EVC) dissemination initiatives. Wonik PNE will leverage its expertise in manufacturing EV chargers and building infrastructure to take charge of stable facility operation and technology validation.

The participating companies plan to comprehensively validate aspects such as charge-discharge control algorithms, system safety and reliability, battery performance retention, and charging service quality and operational efficiency, based on their respective expertise. They also aim to verify the practical feasibility of battery reuse and the battery circular economy in actual business environments.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.