UC San Diego Partners with Cummins to Explore Second-Life Applications for EV Batteries
UC San Diego has launched a multiyear research partnership with Cummins to explore second-life applications for commercial electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries. This collaboration marks one of the first academic efforts focused solely on analyzing the reuse potential of batteries originally designed for heavy-duty applications.
Led by UC San Diego’s battery validation lab, the study will examine technical and economic approaches to repurposing EV batteries as stationary energy storage systems. Researchers will test battery performance under grid storage conditions and develop an outdoor demonstration system using Cummins modules.
The project comes at a time of rising EV adoption and increased pressure to improve battery sustainability. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lithium-ion batteries are recycled at a rate of less than 5%, despite having up to 70% of their capacity remaining after vehicle use.
Cummins, which launched its Electrified Power division in 2018, views this research as a critical step toward advancing lifecycle sustainability and reducing dependence on raw materials sourced from abroad. The partnership supports broader national efforts to enhance battery reuse and recycling, including recent DOE programs and funding initiatives.
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