Melbourne-based firm IM Group – owned by leading aftermarket company GUD Holdings – has launched Infinitev, a service designed to reuse, repurpose or recycle end-of-life hybrid and electric vehicle batteries.

GUD Holdings is the parent company of well-known aftermarket brands in the automotive industry, including Ryco Filters, Wesfil, Narva and its sister IM Group brand, Injectronics.

Infinitev says approximately one per cent of lithium is currently recycled, with most electric vehicle batteries faulting after losing about 20 to 30 per cent of capacity, usually due to an issue with individual cells rather than the whole unit.

It aims to become a front-runner in the electric vehicle marketplace by providing a ‘circular economy’ to reduce waste.

Following a two-year pilot program assisted by funding from Sustainability Victoria, the company will provide three unique service programs – reuse, repurpose or recycle – to manufacturers, dealerships and independent workshops by March 2024.

With strong hybrid vehicle adoption in Australia since the launch of the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius two decades ago, Infinitev aims to remanufacture the retired battery packs to provide a second life, if not longer.

To the end of June 2021, Toyota has sold more than 210,817 hybrid vehicles in Australia, with strong demand for electrified powertrains in the RAV4 and Corolla line-up in recent times.

Year to date, more than 71,000 hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles – and around 23,800 all-electric cars – have been registered in 2022.

How long do electric car batteries last?

“Workshops are progressively seeing hybrid and electric vehicles arriving for service and repair,” said Infinitev.

While most vehicle manufacturers warrant high-voltage components for eight years, general manager Dickson Leow said the average fail point is between six and eight years.

The reuse program aims to identify and replace the failed components within a battery pack to ensure the battery management system (BMS) is happy once again, with most vehicles registering a fault when the battery health drops below 70 per cent.

“When we say it is 70 per cent, so if you imagine … a battery pack may have about 30 modules, just for example. Now, when the system tells you that you have 70 per cent, it’s essentially a number of those packs have failed,” added Mr Leow.

Infinitev general manager Dickson Leow

“Thirty per cent of those packs within the modules, if you like, may have failed or [could] be a bit low… and the classification of fail is that they are below the criteria.

“If we take on those packs and we assess them. As I mentioned, we’ll go through our collaboration using our diagnostics, computer algorithms and what have you. We know and can identify which of those modules are under specification. We will replace those modules within the pack.

“And what we do is we will again try to rebalance and reassess them, and to be able to talk to the BMS.”

How much does an electric car battery cost?

As for the cost, it is expected to incur a saving over a replacement OEM battery from a vehicle dealership, with the option between a comparable aftermarket unit or remanufacturing the existing unit.

“If you’re a hybrid owner, right? You’ve got your [Prius]… if you go to an OEM for a new battery, it will cost you around $3000 fitted. For us, if you give us a call you’ll be around $2500 fully fitted,” said Mr Leow.

While a brand-new aftermarket battery is covered by a three-year/200,000-kilometre warranty, the remanufactured unit is only covered for 40,000 kilometres.

If a battery is no longer suitable for vehicle application, Infinitev has developed its Battery Energy Storage System – a large 3-phase industrial-grade energy system built from repurposed electric vehicle batteries.

It will support commercial and industrial businesses, with an integrated AC-coupled design with the flexibility to scale between 50kWh – enough to power a household – and 2.4MWh.

With emergency storage, peak shaving and energy arbitrage capabilities, the company says it could save $18,500 per year when coupled with solar power, or $4025 without.

In addition, Infinitev said its energy storage system could theoretically save 48.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.

If the only option is to ‘discard’ an end-of-life battery, the company will facilitate with its industry partners to recover the valuable materials used to create new batteries, such as lithium, nickel and cobalt.

“The hybrid was growing from… for the first six months for probably about 2-3 units a month and then over the last 18 months we’ve now grown to about 40-50 units a month, and that is expected to grow to about 60-80 units a month,” said Mr Leow.

“This will be very, very similar trajectory… as the uptake of EV comes on.”

IM Group is based in Melbourne’s south-east, with plans to relocate to a new facility as the demand for remanufactured electric vehicle batteries ramps up.

COMMENTS

Keyword: Infinitev launches EV battery remanufacturing program in Australia

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

2023 BMW iX M60 Review: Ramping up the Power

•    Auto123 reviews the 2023 BMW iX M60. BMW takes straight aim at Tesla and its top-selling Model X with the iX all-electric SUV’s new M60 edition. This is the third variant of the model BMW has put out, after the xDrive40 and iX xDrive50 that debuted with the 2022 ...

View more: 2023 BMW iX M60 Review: Ramping up the Power

Valencia MotoGP: Pramac Ducati on top in FP1 but it's Johann Zarco who leads the way

Johann Zarco helped secure a Ducati top four lockout in FP1 at Valencia, after beating Fabio Di Giannantonio to first place on his final flying lap. Title contender Jorge Martin made the perfect start to FP1 as he led the way early on from Marco Bezzecchi. The same couldn’t ...

View more: Valencia MotoGP: Pramac Ducati on top in FP1 but it's Johann Zarco who leads the way

Lewis Hamilton’s father named as “representative” at centre of Red Bull drama

Lewis Hamilton’s father has been named as the “representative” who was in contact with Red Bull. Anthony Hamilton made contact with Christian Horner, a Red Bull spokesperson told the BBC. But Anthony Hamilton is not officially involved in his son’s management anymore, which may explain the differing versions of ...

View more: Lewis Hamilton’s father named as “representative” at centre of Red Bull drama

MotorWeek Thanksgiving Retro Review Marathon Is The Perfect Way To Drowning Out Family Drama

Screenshot: YouTube/ MotorWeek Well hello and welcome again to another YouTube livestream of MotorWeek’s Retro Reviews, we’re glad to have you with us. The heroes at MotorWeek are already underway in their noble pursuit to save the Thanksgiving holiday with five straight days of free classic car reviews, starting ...

View more: MotorWeek Thanksgiving Retro Review Marathon Is The Perfect Way To Drowning Out Family Drama

2025 Subaru Forester, RUF-Restored Ford GT40, And An Exploded Engine: Rambling About Cars 151

We'll also have a cheap car challenge to find a road-trip vehicle for Thanksgiving.

View more: 2025 Subaru Forester, RUF-Restored Ford GT40, And An Exploded Engine: Rambling About Cars 151

Rivian Leasing Program Launching Next Week But Only For The R1T

This will mark the first time Rivian vehicles are available through a leasing scheme, but details are scarce for now.

View more: Rivian Leasing Program Launching Next Week But Only For The R1T

Hot Wheel’s Latest Exclusive Is A Dodge Power Wagon With A Swivel Frame

This Red Line Club car costs $30 for members.

View more: Hot Wheel’s Latest Exclusive Is A Dodge Power Wagon With A Swivel Frame

Finally! Rivian confirms R1T leasing program is coming very soon

Less than a week after pulling its first demand lever to get new customers behind the wheel of its existing R1T pickup inventory, Rivian is further incentivizing would be drivers by introducing a lease program for the first time. Rivian’s held a mainstay on Electrek‘s homepage the last month, ...

View more: Finally! Rivian confirms R1T leasing program is coming very soon

Ford caves on EV dealer program and will cut charger requirements

Ford caves on EV dealer program following IL loss and will cut charger requirements

Illinois High School's Racing Program Can't Race After Losing Insurance Policy

Fresh status of discussions revealed in VR46 vs Pramac tug-of-war for Moto2 star Fermin Aldeguer

Lewis and McLoughlin lead midway through dramatic Canberra

Esteban Ocon sorry for ‘not acceptable’ F1 fan treatment and reflects on lucky escape from drain drama

F1 confirm plan to resume FP2 at Las Vegas Grand Prix after manhole drama

Vegas FP1 drama sparks Vasseur/Wolff fury - for different reasons

In full: Toto Wolff’s “completely ridiculous” rant in defence of the Las Vegas GP after drain cover drama

Angry Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur labels Las Vegas GP drain cover drama “unacceptable for F1”

GM's Cruise cancels its employee equity program in fourth quarter

Tesla Supercharging Station is now in Sunway Pyramid

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel