What the site does
Zwickau in Saxony has more than a century of automotive history and is home to a large vehicle plant converted to dedicated EV production. The second-life works opened on Industriestrasse in 2019 to turn graded modules from European vehicles into stationary storage, taking advantage of the region's engineering skills and its steady flow of platform-matched modules. Most of its buyers are in Germany and neighbouring countries.
With 20,000 TPA of capacity, the works receives graded modules rather than whole packs and builds containerised and commercial storage systems for European customers. Modules from shared vehicle platforms have uniform formats and electrical characteristics, which makes matching them into balanced strings faster and more reliable than working with mixed sources. Every finished system records the provenance of its modules for traceability.
What arrives at the gate
Feedstock at Zwickau, Saxony reflects its catchment and plant type. Every consignment is weighed, photographed and logged against the originating manifest before it enters the process area.
- Grade A modules from European grading sites
- Platform-matched modules from high-volume EV models
- Grade B modules for lower-duty storage
- Returned storage units for refurbishment
The process, step by step
The 3 operating lines — module matching & restringing, bess container integration, grid commissioning test — run the sequence below.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Module matching | Graded modules are grouped by capacity, impedance and thermal behaviour so strings age evenly. |
| Restringing & BMS retrofit | Matched modules are rebuilt into racks with a new battery management system, fusing and contactors. |
| Enclosure integration | Racks are installed in fire-rated containers with HVAC, aerosol suppression and gas detection. |
| Commissioning cycles | Full charge-discharge commissioning validates round-trip efficiency, SOC accuracy and protection trips. |
| Warranty registration | Each unit ships with a 5-year performance warranty and remote telemetry for state-of-health tracking. |
What sets the site apart
Platform-matched modules. Uniform platform modules simplify matching and system design.
European storage builds. Containerised systems for commercial and grid-support uses across Europe.
Automotive heritage. Draws on a region with deep vehicle engineering expertise.
Where material goes next
Material that Zwickau, Saxony does not finish on site moves to the nearest specialist facility in the network, keeping transport distances and dwell times down.
| Facility | Role | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Stuttgart — Baden-Wurttemberg Grading Works | Cell Grading & Diagnostics | 321 km |
| Rotterdam — Maasvlakte Refining Works | Hydrometallurgical Refinery | 572 km |
Field note