Disused car batteries and solar energy - Deutsche Bahn wants to use this combination to significantly reduce electricity costs in its ICE plants. The Leipzig plant has now been equipped with a so-called second-life battery storage system made from old electric car batteries. It is a pilot project, with other plants to follow, as announced by Deutsche Bahn.
The system consists of used car batteries that are no longer powerful enough to drive electric cars. However, they can be used as storage. These modules store electricity generated by a solar system on the roof of the plant. If a particularly large amount of electricity is required for maintenance work on the trains, the storage system releases it.
85,000 euros saved in electricity costs per year
The solar system and battery storage system could cover around a quarter of the electricity requirements of the Leipzig ICE plant, said Katrin Habenschaden, Head of Sustainability at Deutsche Bahn. This would save around 85,000 euros in energy costs at the site every year. It is a good example of how sustainability and economic efficiency can be brought together.
The second-life battery storage system was developed by a Deutsche Bahn start-up. It consists of 30 modules from eight electric cars that previously ran on the batteries for five to seven years. According to Deutsche Bahn, the storage system could also be expanded if the electricity demand at the plant increases.
Kassel will be the next plant to receive a battery storage system
The maintenance plant in Kassel is also to be equipped with a second-life battery storage system. The company is also looking into other locations where the technology can be used. The use of battery storage is part of the rail refurbishment program, which is also intended to improve the Group's profitability.
Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
