BMW Group Malaysia has unveiled the country’s inaugural Mobile Charging Vehicle at the Malaysia Autoshow 2023. In collaboration with EV Connection, BMW Group Malaysia has launched an innovative second-life battery programme to repurpose batteries from end-of-life BMW and MINI electrified vehicles as mobile EV chargers.
The programme aims to shift the focus from recycling automotive waste to repurposing, giving batteries a more meaningful second life that also encourages sustainable innovation and sharing of technological know-how. The prototype Mobile Charging Vehicle operates on 16 repurposed BMW battery modules that have a State of Health of around 70%, providing up to 20kWh capacity and 30kVA three-phase AC power on demand.
The vehicle is also equipped with a 30kW DC charger positioned at the rear to rescue up to two EVs, providing enough range to reach the nearest charging station. In addition, the Mobile Charging Vehicle can power up to eight homes in disaster zones when fully charged.
The second-life battery programme is part of BMW Group Malaysia’s RE:GENERATE initiative to promote circularity within the organization. The company plans to divert all retired EV batteries to further expand on their electrification possibilities, including high-voltage solutions such as an urban charging hub, roving generators to power communities in disaster zones, as well as enabling rural electrification in the years to come.
