BMW Group Malaysia and Universiti Malaya (UM) are taking a practical step towards extending the useful life of electric vehicle batteries, with the installation of a solar-powered smartphone charging station at UM Central.

The project marks the first completed real-world application under the RE x Universiti Malaya research initiative, bringing more than two years of laboratory research into an everyday setting used by more than 3,000 people each day.

Developed by Associate Professor Dr. Tan Chia Kwang and his team of researchers and PhD students at the UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC), the charging station combines repurposed BMW EV batteries with second-life solar panels. The system uses a solar charge controller, photovoltaic inverter, Battery Management System (BMS) and USB fast charger to store and deliver renewable energy.

At the heart of the system is a 1.5 kWh battery pack made up of three BMW battery modules, each around 10 years old. Following extensive testing, grading and modification, the team was able to recover between 30 and 40 percent of their original capacity.

Rather than retiring batteries simply because they no longer meet the requirements of an electric vehicle, the project demonstrates how batteries with reduced capacity can be matched to applications with lower energy demands.

The UM charging station is equipped with four charging ports, comprising three USB-C ports and one Lightning port. The system offers a combined output of 200W, with each port capable of delivering up to 100W.

Solar energy is captured through the photovoltaic panels before being managed by the system and stored in the repurposed BMW battery modules. The stored electricity can then be used to charge smartphones and other compatible devices, providing a useful service to students and visitors waiting at the bus stop.

The system is also equipped with data loggers that monitor battery parameters and usage. A trained group of UM students will oversee its operation and maintenance, with routine upkeep largely limited to analysing battery data and conducting periodic visual inspections.

BMW Group Malaysia and UM expect the charging station to remain operational for at least five years, although its actual lifespan could extend further depending on usage patterns and the depth of battery discharge.

The project is only one part of the RE initiative. While the lower-capacity batteries were selected for the UM charging station, higher-capacity units from the same programme are being prepared for a more demanding application.

These batteries, which retain up to 80 percent of their original capacity, are intended for deployment to Pos Sinderut in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. There, they will be used to provide off-grid electricity to a Semai Orang Asli community.

Interestingly, the project also looks beyond the conventional concept of a battery having a single useful life. The higher-capacity batteries will first serve in BMW EVs, followed by a second life supporting rural electrification. Once their second-life application comes to an end, Dr. Tan and his team intend to repurpose them once again as smartphone charging stations.

This would create a three-stage lifecycle for the batteries — from powering an electric vehicle, to providing electricity to a rural home, and eventually to serving as a public charging station.

The UM Central installation therefore represents more than just a convenient place to charge a smartphone. It demonstrates how battery technology removed from its original automotive application can continue providing value, while also highlighting the potential for collaboration between the automotive industry and academia to develop practical solutions for energy reuse and sustainability.