ABB (NYSE: ABB), 4R Energy, Nissan North America Inc. (NNA) and Sumitomo Corp. of America have formed a partnership to evaluate the reuse of lithium-ion battery packs that power the Nissan LEAF, an all-electric car.

The team plans to develop a LEAF battery storage prototype with a capacity of at least 50 kWh. The purpose is to evaluate and test the residential and commercial applications of energy storage systems or back-up power sources using lithium-ion battery packs reclaimed from electric vehicles after use.

Electric vehicle batteries have up to 70 percent capacity remaining after 10 years of use in an automotive application. This longevity allows them to be used beyond the lifetime of the vehicle for applications such as a smart-grid community energy management system or battery energy storage.

Read more on-site power news