4R Energy Reused EV Battery Storage Systems

4R Energy Corporation was established in September 2010 as a joint venture of Nissan Motor and Sumitomo Corporation, with headquarters in Yokohama and a technology and production site in Namie, Fukushima, opened in March 2018. Its 4R business (reuse, resell, refabricate, recycle) gives lithium-ion batteries from the Nissan LEAF a second life after vehicle use.

The company evaluates, regrades and repackages used EV batteries into new products: stationary storage systems for buildings and grid projects, factory backup power, replacement batteries for lead-acid applications, and packs for small EVs, EV buses, forklifts, golf carts and AGVs. In June 2019 it obtained UL 1974 certification for repurposed batteries.

• Battery evaluation: used Nissan LEAF batteries are tested and graded for reuse.
• Large-scale storage: systems for grid and island projects such as Koshikijima and Yumeshima.
• Commercial storage: 40 kWh units used in renewable-powered convenience store trials.
• Lead-acid replacement: reused lithium-ion packs for backup and railway crossing equipment.
• Mobility packs: batteries for small EVs, EV buses, forklifts, golf carts and AGVs.
• Recycling route: materials are sent for resource recovery at end of second life.

Factories in Vietnamese industrial parks can use reused-battery storage for backup and peak shaving with rooftop solar. Logistics warehouses can replace lead-acid forklift batteries. Convenience store and retail chains can pilot solar plus storage at branches.

Reused EV batteries offer price-competitive storage while cutting the CO2 linked to making new cells and reducing demand for scarce metals. Batteries come from a vehicle platform the company says has had no large battery-related accidents in over ten years. UL 1974 certification gives buyers a recognised safety basis for repurposed batteries.

Carbon neutrality targets and renewable growth are raising demand for storage, while early EV fleets are now retiring batteries. Vietnam and Southeast Asia have many lead-acid backup systems, forklifts and small electric vehicles where reused lithium-ion packs could cut cost, and Japanese automakers and trading houses are active partners in the region.

Joint venture of Nissan Motor and Sumitomo Corporation, established on 14 September 2010 with capital of JPY 766 million. Headquarters in Minato Mirai, Yokohama; production site in Namie, Fukushima, since March 2018. Obtained UL 1974 certification in June 2019. Trials with Seven-Eleven stores and JR East.