Germany: Mercedes-Benz builds impressive energy storage facility using electric Smart car battery packs
I am struck at how extremely expensive their setup is excluding the battery costs. This is an indoor facility with massive air conditioning built in - real estate, building, air conditioning, building maintenance are all huge additional costs. Seems like an odd way to go about building electricity storage.
Is it possible that the batteries involved are at their best at a particular ambient temperature? It might actually save money keeping them at this thermal optimal, if there is actually a thermal optimal.
Terry
Batteries definitely have optimum operating temperatures. But, for example, Tesla's EV batteries, Powerwalls (residential), and Powerpacks (commercial/utility) have integrated liquid cooling systems, so they can be used indoors or out.
The LEAF's air-cooled system is blamed for its batteries not faring well in hot areas like the southwestern U.S. If the batteries Daimler is using don't have active thermal management, they'd be forced to limit installation to indoor, temperature-controlled locations -- a considerable restriction, but I guess they worked with what they had.