UK-based Connected Energy and French battery manufacturer Forsee Power have signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop scalable energy storage solutions using second-life electric bus batteries. The project builds on their partnership established in 2021 and will integrate Connected Energy’s reuse technology with Forsee Power’s ZEN 35 and ZEN 42 battery systems.
The new agreement aims to deliver modular, grid-scale storage systems by repurposing battery packs previously used in approximately 1,500 electric buses across Europe. The companies announced that the first 2.5 megawatt-hour (MWh) system will be operational in the UK by the fourth quarter of 2025. Additional projects exceeding 25 MWh are being planned for both the UK and France.
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“Our company’s vision is to develop a sustainable battery ecosystem to maximise the value of our batteries throughout their lifetime,” said Christophe Gurtner, Chairman and CEO of Forsee Power. “With over 4,200 buses equipped by Forsee, we will have access to a significant number of batteries once they complete their first life. As a consequence, the potential is huge.”
Connected Energy CEO Mathew Lumsden emphasized the value of industry collaboration in scaling second-life battery systems. “This agreement with Forsee Power represents a significant step forward in delivering a new second-life economy for EV batteries. The availability of second-life batteries is increasing rapidly,” he said.
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The cooperation will also include the development of a business model aimed at supporting future commercial-scale deployments of second-life storage systems across Europe. Connected Energy, which has deployed second-life systems at several sites including Volvo Truck & Bus locations in the UK, continues to explore reuse and recycling models, including a recent collaboration with Altilium.
Forsee Power, meanwhile, expanded its global footprint in 2024 with a new battery factory and headquarters in Ohio, and secured contracts to supply battery systems for Turkish manufacturer Bozankaya and for converting 1,000 diesel buses for Wrightbus.