Jaguar’s engineering team have worked with Pramac to develop a zero-emission energy storage unit powered by second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries, taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles. The Off-Grid Battery Energy Storage System (ESS), Pramac’s technology, features lithium-ion cells from one-and-a-half second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries. The unit will supply zero-emission power where access to access the mains supply is limited or unavailable.
During testing in the UK and Spain, the unit helped Jaguar TCS Racing prepare for the 2022 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The unit was used to run the team’s diagnostic equipment, analyse the race cars’ track performance, and supply auxiliary power to the Jaguar pit garage.
The testing and validation of the Off-Grid BatteryESS by Jaguar TCS Racing is demonstration of race-to-road-to-race cyclical technology transfer. Learnings from Jaguar TCS Racing have previously informed a software-over-the-air (SOTA) update for I-PACE customers that delivered a real-world range increase of up to 20km – and now further use cases for the Off Grid Battery ESS around the racing team’s programme are being assessed.
The flagship ESS system has a capacity of up to 125kWh – more than enough to fully charge Jaguar’s all-electric I-PACE performance SUV or power a regular family home for a week. Charged from solar panels, the unit is a self-contained solution that consists of a battery system linked to a bi-directional converter and the associated control management systems. Available for commercial hire, the units are fitted with Type 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) charge connections with dynamic control and rated at up to 22kW AC to allow electric vehicle charging.
Finding a second life for batteries after they have been removed from vehicles can avoid premature recycling and help create a secure supply of rare materials. The state-of-the-art 90kWh Lithium-ion battery in the Jaguar I-PACE delivers up to 470km/ 292 miles range (WLTP cycle), and with 400PS and 696Nm of instant torque enables acceleration from 0-60mph in just 4.5 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8s). The battery was also developed for durability to match its outstanding performance and efficiency, and I-PACE customers benefit from a battery warranty of 8-years or 100,000miles (160,000km). In addition, it must maintain at least 70 per cent State of Health.
This advanced engineering makes the I-PACE battery perfect for second-life, and even third-life, applications in low-energy situations once battery health falls below the stringent requirements of an electric vehicle. Moreover, once the battery finally comes to the end of its usable life, it is 95 per cent recyclable.
As well as collaborating with industry leaders such as Pramac, Jaguar TCS Racing has committed its long-term future to the Gen3 era of Formula E. The team will further help Jaguar Land Rover develop new sustainable technologies, set new benchmarks in quality with its partners and support Jaguar’s renaissance as an all-electric luxury brand from 2025.
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