Carbon Emission Reduction by Echelon Utilization of Retired Vehicle Power Batteries in Energy Storage Power Stations

With the enhancement of environmental awareness, China has put forward new carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets. Electric vehicles can effectively reduce carbon emissions in the use stage, and some retired power batteries can also be used in echelon, so as to replace the production and use of new batteries. How to calculate the reduction of carbon emission by the echelon utilization of retired power batteries in energy storage power stations is a problem worthy of attention. This research proposes a specific analysis process, to analyze how to select the appropriate battery type and capacity margin. Taking the BYD power battery as an example, in line with the different battery system structures of new batteries and retired batteries used in energy storage power stations, emissions at various stages in different life cycles were calculated; following this in carbon emission, reduction, by the echelon utilization of the retired power battery, was obtained. Finally, the overall carbon emissions that might be reduced by echelon utilization in the future were calculated according to the BYD’s battery loading volume and China’s total power battery loading volume in 2021. This research provides a quantitative analysis idea for the carbon emission reduction of power battery echelon utilization. Using this method could improve the process of echelon utilization, optimize the supply chain of power batteries, drive the development of the new-energy vehicle industry, and explore new business models, so as to achieve the environmental protection goal of carbon neutrality.