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BMW Malaysia and the University of Malaya (UM) has found a brilliant way to give electric vehicle (EV) batteries a second life
The German automaker announced a collaboration involving the Advanced Power and Energy Centre (UMPEDAC), the UM Centre for Community Engagement (UMCares), and the UM Centre for Sustainable Development (UMSDC) to bring sustainable energy to a remote village.
The Orang Asli Semai community in Ulu Sendirut, Pahang, received third-generation lithium battery packs connected to solar panels.
This setup now runs communal refrigerators, keeping fresh food and meat safe for longer.
It is not just rural communities benefiting from this tech, as UM students on campus are also getting an upgrade
A prototype charging station at a UM bus stop uses these retired batteries to charge laptops and smartphones simultaneously.
This setup relies on a solar-panel roof to charge the old car batteries during the day, providing a reliable and green power source for waiting students who need a quick battery top-up.
To ensure these packs are not carelessly discarded later, BMW Malaysia tracks them using a digital battery passport. This system guarantees that every single unit is eventually recycled responsibly.
