BMW Group Malaysia partners with Universiti Malaya to repurpose used EV batteries

KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group Malaysia is committed to providing sustainable energy solutions and community development in Malaysia. In its recent endeavours, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Universiti Malaya (UM), focusing on repurposing used BMW EV batteries for energy storage solutions.

The main aim of this strategic partnership is to research and develop second-life applications for EV batteries, supporting Malaysia's renewable energy and rural electrification goals. Key highlights are as follows -

• As a part of the collaboration, BMW Group Malaysia will supply used EV batteries to the institution’s UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC).
• Researchers at UMPEDAC will explore various ways to repurpose used batteries and discover their potential second-life applications, including stationary energy storage systems and on-campus sustainable energy solutions.
• The findings are expected to benefit communities through sustainable development projects managed by the UM Community Engagement Centre (UMCares) and the UM Sustainable Development Centre (UMSDC).
• Along with technical R&D, the partnership will also emphasise knowledge sharing and capacity building between BMW Group Malaysia's technical experts and UM's faculty and students, as well as public engagement initiatives.

Benjamin Nagel, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia, stated: "This partnership with Universiti Malaya represents our commitment to ensuring that our electric vehicle batteries continue to create value even after their automotive lifecycle. By collaborating with one of Malaysia's leading research institutions, we are not only advancing the BMW Group’s commitment to Circularity locally but also developing solutions that align with Malaysia's broader sustainability objectives. This is about creating sustainable solutions that benefit communities while reducing environmental impact."

Professor Dato' Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya, said: "We are excited to partner with BMW Group Malaysia on this groundbreaking initiative. At Universiti Malaya, we have been at the forefront of energy storage research, and this collaboration allows us to work with premium-quality battery systems to develop practical solutions for energy storage challenges. Second-life batteries have tremendous potential to support renewable energy integration and demonstrate the viability of circular economy principles in practice. This partnership exemplifies how industry and academia can work together to drive meaningful innovation that addresses real-world challenges."

Built on BMW Group Malaysia's ongoing sustainability initiatives under its RE:THINK and RE:GENERATE programmes, this partnership aims to extend the lifecycle of batteries beyond their automotive use. It underscores the automaker's commitment to Circularity and Sustainable Mobility within Malaysia's growing electric vehicle sector.

With such initiatives, BMW Group Malaysia continues to ramp up its sustainability efforts through Circularity principles, focusing on reducing waste and maximising resource efficiency across its business value chain. 

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