Second-Life BMW EV Batteries Power Solar Phone Charging Station at Universiti Malaya

BMW Group Malaysia and Universiti Malaya representatives at the UM Central second-life battery charging station
The solar smartphone charging station at UM Central uses a second-life BMW EV battery. (Photo: BMW Group Malaysia)

A solar-powered phone charging station at Universiti Malaya is showing how an EV battery can remain useful after its capacity has fallen below the level expected for a car.

Developed through the RE:GENERATE x Universiti Malaya programme with BMW Group Malaysia, the installation at the UM Central bus stop is the first completed project from more than two years of research. The location serves over 3,000 people a day, giving the university team a public, real-world setting in which to monitor the system.

Matching remaining battery health to lighter loads

The 1.5kWh storage system uses three BMW battery modules. According to the project information, each battery originally had an estimated service life of around 10 years. Following testing, grading and repurposing, the modules used at UM Central retain about 30% to 40% of their initial capacity.

Second-life BMW battery smartphone charging unit at UM Central
The charging unit is installed at the UM Central bus stop for campus users. (Photo: BMW Group Malaysia)

That reduced capacity may limit their suitability for demanding automotive use, but it remains sufficient for a low-power application such as charging phones. The approach keeps the batteries in service instead of treating every pack below vehicle requirements as immediately ready for retirement.

The station combines reused BMW EV batteries with second-life solar panels, a solar charge controller, PV inverter, Battery Management System (BMS) and USB fast chargers. It offers four ports — three USB-C and one Lightning connector for older Apple devices — with 200W of combined output and up to 100W from a single port.

A data logger records battery parameters and usage. Trained students assist with monitoring and maintenance by reviewing logged data and carrying out visual inspections. The system is designed to operate for at least five years, although its actual lifespan will depend on usage patterns, battery condition and depth of discharge.

Higher-capacity modules earmarked for Pos Sinderut

The broader study sorts batteries by their remaining capability rather than assigning them all to the same task. Modules retaining as much as 80% of their original capacity are being prepared for deployment at Pos Sinderut in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, where they are intended to support off-grid electricity for the Semai community. That installation is a planned next step and is not yet described as operational.

BMW Group Malaysia and Universiti Malaya representatives demonstrate smartphone charging from a second-life battery
A demonstration of smartphone charging through the second-life battery system. (Photo: BMW Group Malaysia)

The research team is considering a three-stage path for these batteries. After their first life in an EV, higher-capacity modules could serve as energy storage at Pos Sinderut. Once they can no longer meet that load, they could move into a third-life role in lighter applications such as phone charging.

Developed by an associate professor from UMPEDAC together with the university research team and doctoral students, the UM Central station turns battery-circularity research into an everyday facility. Just as importantly, its monitoring equipment can provide data for future deployments beyond the campus.

Move Auto's Take

Charging phones is the demonstration, not the main story. The more useful lesson is that an EV battery does not have to move directly from a vehicle to material recycling. Grading modules and matching them to different loads could extend their working life, from low-power campus equipment to more consequential off-grid storage. Pos Sinderut will be the next test of whether this approach can translate from a controlled campus installation into community energy support.

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