Japan’s Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) announced it has partnered with Connexx Systems Corporation to develop second-life solutions for batteries used in its eCanter light trucks.
Starting in February, the truck-maker plans to launch trials to repurpose its end-of-life truck batteries for use in energy storage systems (ESS), in collaboration with Connexx Systems - a Japanese company focused on developing next-generation ESS and charging systems.
A test facility will be installed at the Muko City Hall in Kyoto, Japan, which will charge local official electric vehicles (EVs) using end-of-life eCanter batteries and Connexx “EnePOND” EV chargers. The Connexx systems can charge multiple EVs simultaneously, according to the company.
Mitsubishi Fuso suggested that second-life batteries can help reduce the load on the nation’s power grid at peak times and will be particularly useful during power outages. It also claims that end-of-life batteries can help reduce the cost and accelerate the establishment of EV charging networks across the country.
The company said it plans to install an EnePOND EV charging system later this year at its main Kawasaki plant, to charge plug-in vehicles including battery-powered trucks.
Mitsubishi Fuso and Connexx aim to initially verify the practicality of the EnePOND EV chargers and establish applications for reusing used eCanter batteries, ahead of the planned commercial roll-out of a charging network in 2026.
