The cooperation through Daimler subsidiary Accumotive will use around 3,000 EV battery modules prior to their use as replacements for the new smart fortwo electric drive.

The result will be an energy storage facility with a total storage capacity of 15 MWh – said to be one of the largest in Europe.

After completion, the energy storage facility will be marketed on the German primary balancing energy market, with the partners highlighting its contribution to stabilisation of the power grid and to the economic efficiency of electromobility.

The constantly fluctuating balancing power demand from the grid will also provide a solution for the required cyclising of the batteries while Daimler said the Accumotive battery management system will ensure the batteries are always in optimum condition in terms of temperature and charge level so that they meet the high standards required in terms of quality and service life. It referred to the whole process as a ‘fountain of youth’.