Skoda uses second-life batteries to power its showrooms

Skoda is turning second-life battery packs from its test and pre-production vehicles to build innovative new power hubs across its retailer network.

The hubs store sustainably generated electricity in end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and can be used to power retailer and workshop buildings and deliver rapid charging for customer cars.

Following a successful pilot project in Prague, the innovative energy storage hubs are now available to selected Skoda retailers in mainland Europe. So far, 160 pre-orders have been received from dealers in the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands and Slovakia.

The power hubs can hold up to 20 batteries from Skoda's plug-in hybrid models, each with 13kWh, or five 82kWh batteries from the fully-electric Enyaq iV. The system has a total capacity of up to 328kWh, and can be used to supply fast-charging stations with a transmission power of up to 150kW.

The system can also store any surplus green electricity that is generated by Skoda retailers' photovoltaic systems, for example. This electricity can then be used at any time with full transmission power, regardless of the weather or the current load on the local power grid. In addition, the dealers can draw on the electricity generated in-house to light their showroom or workshop or to run the air conditioning.