Carwatt presents a unique automotive application for second-life batteries from electric vehicles.

On the sidelines of the COP21 summit, in the Solutions Gallery running from 2 to 9 December 2015 in Le Bourget near Paris, Carwatt and its partners —Renault, Paris City Council, BPI France, the Alès École des Mines Engineering School, and the Bobigny Business Campus — are showing a very special electric Renault Trafic. This prototype vehicle, the only one of kind in the world, is powered by second-life lithium-ion batteries recycled from Renault electric cars.

Circular economy at work with electric vehicles
When, over time, the batteries of a Renault electric vehicle fall the performance threshold specified for their initial automotive power duty (around 75% of initial capacity), they can still provide valuable service in “second-life” applications before end-of-life disposal at a recycling centre. Experiments are already under way on power storage applications, for example.
Carwatt develops innovative applications for using these batteries to convert used urban commercial vehicles into electric vehicles. In giving a second automotive life to these batteries, Carwatt provides a good illustration of the founding principles of the circular economy, in that the whole-lifecycle battery value is optimized through successive usages.

Lower pollution and less expense
Electric conversion of urban commercial vehicles reduces investment levels as well as makes a concrete and immediate contribution to reducing urban pollution levels, since 94% of commercial vehicles are diesel-fuelled. In 2016, Carwatt and Paris City Council will be experimenting with other Renault commercial vehicles converted to run on electricity.

About Carwatt
Carwatt is an innovative startup, founded in 2015, that develops onboard and stationary applications for second-life batteries from electric vehicles. It is based at the Paris&Co business nursery and is backed by BPI France. Its partners are Renault, Paris City Council, the Alès École des Mines Engineering School, and the Bobigny Business Campus. In partnership with the Wazzaj non-profit organization, Carwatt is also presenting a sustainable development module (stationary energy storage container with solar panels) for the development of economic activities in isolated regions. Contacts: Fabien Berger, co-founder and director; Gérard Feldzer, co-founder and president. Address: Paris Region Innovation Nord Express 48, rue René Clair, 75018 Paris
Phone: +33 (0)1 40 70 05 46 – contact@carwatt.net – Facebook: @carwattsas

About Renault
Renault has been making cars since 1898. Today, Groupe Renault is a major international organization that operates 38 manufacturing facilities, employs close to 128,000 people, and sold more than 2.5 million vehicles in 128 pays in 2014. To address the technological challenges of the future and pursue its profitable growth strategy, Renault builds on international development, complementary coverage across the three Groupe Renault brands (Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors), electric vehicles, the Renault-Nissan Alliance, and partnerships with Avtovaz and Daimler.
http://group.renault.com/ @Groupe Renault