EV second life

EV second life is the further use of an EV battery, module, or pack after its vehicle application, either in the same kind of application or in a different application such as stationary storage. The battery must be assessed for state of health, inspected for damage, and tested for safety for the new application, under the steps in EN 18061:2025 and the general guidance in IEC 63338. The record must name the new application, the assessment, the operator responsible for the new life, and the passport treatment, whether the original passport is updated, linked, or replaced by a new passport. A second life claim without an assessment and a new application record is a claim about a battery that has not been judged fit for the new use.

EV second life means the use of an EV battery after its first vehicle life, following preparation for reuse or preparation for repurposing. The scope covers batteries, modules, and packs removed from vehicles, for the new application stated.

How is the EV category decided?

EV second life applies to that category, and the record should state the vehicle category, the weight basis, and the reason the battery falls inside the definition. Articles 3 and 73 is the operative provision for the point in question, and Annex XIII sets the passport content where a passport applies. A second life operator assessing EV packs for stationary storage should not assume that a traction battery for another vehicle type follows the same entry. An EV pack entering stationary storage should carry an assessment of capacity, insulation, and thermal behaviour for stationary duty, plus a record of the new site, the new operator, and the passport link to the first life.

How are model and individual layers kept separate?

For EV second life, the record should keep the two layers separate, with a link from the individual record to the model record. The assessment, safety checks, new application record, and passport link for a model value should name the test or calculation method and the date, while evidence for an individual value should name the measurement, the date, and the source system, such as the battery management system. A repurposed EV battery that is placed on the market as a new battery needs a new passport linked to the original, and the record should state the link, so the history is not lost at the point of repurposing.

How are performance values stated?

For EV second life, a capacity value, a power value, a cycle life value, or a capacity retention value should state the test conditions, the reference temperature, the charge and discharge rates, and the end point used. A second life operator assessing EV packs for stationary storage should record which requirement applies to the EV battery in question and which requirement does not, with the article reference. An EV pack entering stationary storage should carry an assessment of capacity, insulation, and thermal behaviour for stationary duty, plus a record of the new site, the new operator, and the passport link to the first life.

How is use phase information recorded?

For EV second life, state of health, cycle count, temperature history, and fault history, where recorded, should be tied to the unique identifier and dated, so a later reader can see the sequence. The assessment, safety checks, new application record, and passport link should include the data extraction date and the version of the software or method used, where that information is available. A repurposed EV battery that is placed on the market as a new battery needs a new passport linked to the original, and the record should state the link, so the history is not lost at the point of repurposing.

How are repair and second life operations distinguished?

For EV second life, the record should name the operation, the operator who carried it out, the date, the parts changed, and the tests applied after the operation. A second life operator assessing EV packs for stationary storage should check whether a new passport, a linked passport, or an updated passport is required for the operation, and should record the reasoning. An EV pack entering stationary storage should carry an assessment of capacity, insulation, and thermal behaviour for stationary duty, plus a record of the new site, the new operator, and the passport link to the first life.

How is access and handover handled?

For EV second life, the passport access rules in Article 77 set different levels for the public, for persons with a legitimate interest, and for authorities and notified bodies, and the record should not promise wider access than the Regulation allows. A repurposed EV battery that is placed on the market as a new battery needs a new passport linked to the original, and the record should state the link, so the history is not lost at the point of repurposing. A second life operator assessing EV packs for stationary storage should retain the handover record with the identifier, so a later dispute can be traced to a dated transfer.

How is one EV pack gated for stationary use?

Gating one pack for stationary use starts with the first life record: the passport, the state of health trend, and the fault history. The pack is inspected, tested for insulation and capacity, and assessed against the stationary duty, including the expected cycle pattern and temperature. A worked gate sheet shows the pack identifier, the test results, the acceptance criteria, and the decision, with the assessor and date. A pack that passes capacity but shows a history of high temperature faults is held for further thermal assessment, and the hold is recorded. The gate decision names the new application and the conditions, and the passport link is created only after the gate passes.

Second life begins with an assessment, and a battery that enters a new application without one carries its first life risks into a new setting.