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Environment

Daimler to offer Mercedes-Benz energy-storage system

By Ben Coxworth
June 05, 2015
Daimler to offer Mercedes-Benz energy-storage system
Mercedes-Benz energy storage modules will be available in a home-use model, and a higher-capacity version for businesses
Mercedes-Benz energy storage modules will be available in a home-use model, and a higher-capacity version for businesses
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Since they were developed for demanding service on board cars, Mercedes-Benz says its energy storage units meet the very highest safety and quality standards
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Since they were developed for demanding service on board cars, Mercedes-Benz says its energy storage units meet the very highest safety and quality standards
Mercedes-Benz energy storage modules will be available in a home-use model, and a higher-capacity version for businesses
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Mercedes-Benz energy storage modules will be available in a home-use model, and a higher-capacity version for businesses
Mercedes says its batteries can buffer surplus power "virtually free of losses"
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Mercedes says its batteries can buffer surplus power "virtually free of losses"
Since they were developed for demanding service on board cars, Mercedes-Benz says its energy storage units meet the very highest safety and quality standards
4/6
Since they were developed for demanding service on board cars, Mercedes-Benz says its energy storage units meet the very highest safety and quality standards
Mercedes-Benz energy storage modules will be available in a home-use model, and a higher-capacity version for businesses
5/6
Mercedes-Benz energy storage modules will be available in a home-use model, and a higher-capacity version for businesses
Mercedes says its batteries can buffer surplus power "virtually free of losses"
6/6
Mercedes says its batteries can buffer surplus power "virtually free of losses"
View gallery - 6 images

Tesla recently did it to much acclaim, and now Daimler is doing it too – the German automotive corporation is launching its own home/business battery energy storage system. Developed by Daimler subsidiary Deutsche ACCUmotive, the Mercedes-Benz energy storage unit utilizes lithium-ion batteries to store energy generated by solar cells, wind turbines or other sources.

Utilizing technology that was originally developed for use in Mercedes and smart hybrid/electric cars, the battery modules will be available in two versions – a 2.5-kWh model for homes, and a 5.9-kWh model for industrial use. Up to eight 2.5 kWh modules can be linked together to form a 20 kWh energy storage unit for use by businesses.

The 5.9 kWh model is also scalable making it suitable for commercial and industrial use. In fact, as part of the Coulomb joint venture, project partners The Mobility House and GETEC Energie are using 96 of the modules to provide grid stabilization and to smooth out load peaks in the German town of Kamenz. The system currently has a combined capacity of over 500 kWh, and plans call for that to be boosted to 3,000 kWh within the next few weeks.

Daimler is now establishing sales and distribution networks, both in Germany and internationally. Mercedes-Benz energy storage units can be ordered starting this month, with shipping scheduled to begin in the fall (Northern Hemisphere). There is currently no word on pricing.

Source: Daimler via Green Car Reports

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EnvironmentRenewable EnergyDaimlerBatteriesMercedes-Benz
17 comments
Ben Coxworth
Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.

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17 comments
snave
I see no logic in this: Generate energy at home, transfer it to the grid. Get paid. Buy this hugely expensive garage ornament gadget. Spend a small fortune and see no return on investment.
Bit like the depreciation on a Mercedes these days...
Mind you Lithium Ion battery might warm your garage in, shall we say, unexpected ways. Ask Boeing...
Milton
Home owners want batteries to cut the cord from the grid.
They don't want batteries to prevent seldom (2 hours / year?) power outages.
Get with it.
S Michael
And so it begins... Look for the grid to become antiquated within 10 years.
Daishi
Fast forward to when solar can produce 100% of power need up till about 5 PM. The highest demand of the day is in the evening as the sun fades and before people head off to sleep.
On the backend this means Utility companies have to have hundreds fossil fuel based energy production plants at the ready as millions of solar panels shut off at the same time as demand climbs. After only a 4 hour burst of demand many people head to sleep and several of the plants can be brought offline again.
Fossil fuel based production plants tend to be best suited to running 24/7 dealing with stable loads so the cost per kwh for a coal plant that only comes online to deal with a 4 hour load and be shut back down would be pretty high. Storage is the most suitable solution and right now lithium ion seems to show the most promise.
Noel K Frothingham
Milton, many homeowners want a reliable alternative to a generator.. People living in storm zones will need an alternative power source for days to weeks at a time. Small generators can be used to provide recharge capabilities while using far less fuel that a conventional gen-set.
Noel K Frothingham
snave, different needs call for different chemistries. Some chemistries genrerate more heat, others less.
Fretting Freddy the Ferret pressing the Fret
Another small, but significant step has been taken. We're moving to more local energy generation and storage.
Noel K Frothingham
Homeowners want alternative power source capable of providing power for as little as a couple of hours and as long as a few days. Batteries will run down eventually, but a small generator could keep the batteries topped off while using substantially. It is the reason why you can still have a working landline telephone when power is out.
Brendan Dunphy
@Noel K Frothingham. Landline phones under POTS were powered by the network but with ADSL and fibre this is no longer the case so power is required to have a functioning landline.
R.Budd
Great, if every home owner wants their own battery bank capable of running their home, along with the PV, wind and no doubt back -up fossil generator, the total CO2 lifecycle and resource allocation challenge goes wildly off the sustainability meter. EROEI goes well below what would be needed to keep 10 billion folks alive without stripping the planet. No thanks. Give me a nuclear based conventional grid, I'll charge the car at nite and keep a gennie for the rare outage.
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