BMW Malaysia and Universiti Malaya Give Retired EV Batteries a Second Life
BMW Malaysia and Universiti Malaya (UM) have begun rolling out on-campus mobile device charging stations that run on a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) using retired batteries from BMW electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The project is part of the BMW Malaysia RE:GENERATE x Universiti Malaya initiative exploring second-life uses for EV batteries.
- BMW Malaysia and Universiti Malaya deployed a BESS mobile charging station at UM Sentral powered by retired EV batteries and solar panels
- The station was designed, developed and deployed by UM students under researchers from UMPEDAC
- BMW Malaysia has collected over 13,600 retired EV battery units, with newer packs averaging 1.6 kWh of remaining capacity
Charging station at the campus bus hub
UM Sentral, the university’s main bus hub, was chosen as the first site. Equipped with four USB cables, the station is primarily designed to charge smartphones, although a prototype shown at a media briefing in May appeared powerful enough to power an average laptop. Solar panels installed on the bus station roof charge the system.
According to UM, the mobile device charging station was designed, developed and deployed by UM students themselves under the supervision of researchers from the UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC). Also involved are UM’s Sustainable Development Centre (UMSDC) and Community Engagement Centre (UMCares).
What happens to a retired EV battery
The high-voltage battery in an EV, PHEV or HEV is usually deemed unsuitable for automotive operation once it reaches a certain State of Health (SoH). For BMW vehicles, an EV battery pack is retired when its SoH drops below 70%. Despite this, the battery usually retains significant residual capacity, making it viable for stationary energy storage applications like a BESS.
BMW has been selling electrified vehicles in Malaysia for over a decade, and BMW Malaysia reported it has delivered over 38,700 EVs and PHEVs as of March 2026. As standard practice, the company collects retired EV batteries, recovering over 13,600 units to date. A portion of these batteries is delivered to UMPEDAC, where Associate Professor Dr Tan Chia Kwang, alongside researchers and PhD students, evaluates their health before repurposing them for BESS projects.
From campus chargers to rural electrification
The UMPEDAC team noted that newer-generation BMW EV batteries feature higher energy density and retain more capacity, averaging 1.6 kWh per pack, while older-generation packs average 0.5 kWh. As a result, older packs are repurposed for the on-campus mobile charging stations, while newer, healthier packs are earmarked for a different BESS designed for UM’s Rural Electrification Project.
That project aims at off-grid rural communities. Once ready, the system will be installed in the Semai Orang Asli community in Ulu Sendirut, Kuala Lipis, Pahang. Solar panels charge the batteries during the day, and the stored energy powers household appliances at night. The BESS is powerful enough to run lights, fans and even a refrigerator.
The research team highlighted that refrigeration significantly improves quality of life in rural areas, allowing families who hunt or gather food to store provisions and reduce food waste, while also cutting reliance on costly petrol or diesel generators. BMW Malaysia retains ownership of the retired EV batteries used in these initiatives and will take responsibility for retrieving and properly recycling the packs once they reach the end of their usable second life.
Source: SoyaCincau
Cover image generated by AI for illustrative purposes only.
