Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation is launching a Battery 2nd Life programme to repurpose EV batteries, improve charging infrastructure, and promote sustainability.
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), headquartered in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is set to roll out an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and promoting sustainability through its Battery 2nd Life programme. The firm, under the leadership of President and CEO Karl Deppen, plans to repurpose batteries from its electric light-duty eCanter trucks. This initiative is a collaborative effort alongside CONNEXX SYSTEMS, a company reputed for its advanced storage battery technologies.
The programme will commence with a demonstration in February 2025, featuring the installation of an EnePOND® EV Charger at Muko City Hall, located in Kyoto Prefecture. The charger will primarily serve to charge the city’s official electric vehicles. Following this, a second EnePOND® EV Charger will be established at MFTBC’s Kawasaki Plant later in 2025, enabling charging for various vehicles, including trucks.
The EnePOND® EV Charger, tentatively named and developed in conjunction with CONNEXX SYSTEMS, is designed to alleviate the strain on the existing power grid while facilitating fast charging for multiple EVs concurrently. Notably, it incorporates the ability to provide power during outages, further enhancing its utility. The use of repurposed batteries is expected to expedite the expansion of the charging infrastructure and reduce costs while extending the batteries’ usable lifespans.
The Battery 2nd Life initiative is an integral component of MFTBC’s Battery Lifecycle Management programme, which is part of the broader FUSO eMobility Solutions package aimed at supporting customers in the adoption and operation of electric trucks. As the demand for processing used batteries is anticipated to surge with the ongoing electrification trends, this initiative, alongside the Material Recovery initiative announced in September 2024, is pivotal to MFTBC’s strategy.
Once extracted from retired eCanter vehicles, the batteries will be deployed in various applications under the Battery 2nd Life framework. Upon completion of their second life, the materials from these batteries will be recycled for use in new products, thereby fostering a circular economy within the battery supply chain. This strategy aims to enhance material value and effectively lower the overall costs associated with EVs, thus further accelerating the transition to electric mobility.
Energy storage systems such as those being developed contribute to stabilising the power grid and balancing electricity supply and demand by storing renewable energy, including solar power. They also provide backup power during outages, which is critical for business continuity and operational resilience.
In a bid to deepen the understanding of its initiatives, MFTBC and CONNEXX SYSTEMS will present detailed insights into the Battery 2nd Life initiative at the ZET-summit 2025. This event, taking place on February 4th and 5th in Muko City, is dedicated to exploring both domestic and international decarbonisation technologies, showcasing advancements in sustainable practices across various sectors.
Through these efforts, MFTBC is advancing its commitment to sustainability and innovation within the automotive industry. The progress of this initiative is likely to have significant implications for the future of electric vehicle infrastructure and the broader adoption of green technology solutions.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/mftbc-repurposes-ecanter-batteries-for-energy-storage-systems-with-ev-chargers/ – Corroborates MFTBC’s Battery 2nd Life initiative and its partnership with CONNEXX SYSTEMS to repurpose eCanter batteries for energy storage systems integrated with EV chargers.
- https://batteriesnews.com/mftbc-mitsubishi-fuso-truck-and-bus-corporation-repurposes-ecanter-batteries-for-energy-storage-systems-with-ev-chargers/ – Supports the details of MFTBC’s Battery 2nd Life initiative, including the installation of EnePOND® EV Chargers at Muko City Hall and MFTBC’s Kawasaki Plant.
- https://assets.mitsubishi-fuso.com/fusoassets/2025/01/MFTBC0128%E2%80%97MFTBC-repurposes-eCanter-batteries-for-energy-storage-systems-with-EV-chargers.pdf – Provides a PDF document detailing MFTBC’s plans for repurposing eCanter batteries and integrating them with EnePOND® EV Chargers.
- https://www.mitsubishi-fuso.com/en/ – General information about Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, including its headquarters and leadership.
- https://www.connexx-systems.com/ – Information about CONNEXX SYSTEMS Corporation, highlighting its role in advanced storage battery technologies.
- https://www.muko.kyoto.jp/en/ – Details about Muko City, Kyoto Prefecture, where the first EnePOND® EV Charger will be installed.
- https://www.kawasaki.jp/en/ – Information about Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, where MFTBC is headquartered and will install another EnePOND® EV Charger.
- https://www.zet-summit.com/ – Details about the ZET-summit 2025, where MFTBC and CONNEXX SYSTEMS will present their initiatives.
- https://www.noahwire.com/ – Source of the original article, though it does not provide specific details about the Battery 2nd Life initiative.
- https://www.mitsubishi-fuso.com/en/sustainability/ – General information about MFTBC’s sustainability initiatives, which include the Battery 2nd Life program.
- https://www.connexx-systems.com/en/technology/ – Details about CONNEXX SYSTEMS’ advanced battery technologies, which are integral to the EnePOND® EV Charger.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative mentions specific future events, such as a demonstration in February 2025 and a summit on February 4th and 5th, indicating recent and upcoming activities.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the narrative, so there is no risk of recycled or misattributed quotes.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from a specialized news site (batteriesnews.com), which may not be as well-known or widely recognized as major news outlets like BBC or Reuters.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about repurposing batteries for energy storage and collaborating with CONNEXX SYSTEMS are plausible given the context of sustainability and EV infrastructure development. However, specific details about the technology and its effectiveness cannot be verified without further evidence.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be fresh and focused on recent initiatives, but lacks direct quotes and originates from a less well-known source. While the claims seem plausible within the context of sustainable technology, they require further verification for full confirmation.
