Lighting up Orang Asli homes with discarded EV batteries

What do discarded batteries from BMW electric vehicles, second-life solar panels and an Orang Asli village deep in the jungles of Pahang have in common? Quite a lot, as I discovered at Kampung Saweh, Pos Sinderut, reached by a 70km jungle trail that takes about two hours to negotiate.

We had volunteered our 4WD vehicles to transport a Universiti Malaya team to the village. This mission was particularly interesting because it combined rural electrification, renewable energy and the reuse of electric vehicle batteries.

As a veteran off-roader, I’ve spent decades exploring jungle trails and enjoying camping by rivers. These days, one of the more satisfying uses of our 4×4 vehicles is transporting volunteers and equipment to marginalised rural communities.

Leading the project was Tan Chia Kwang, an associate professor, supported by 14 graduate and undergraduate students. The project received funding from Universiti Malaya’s community engagement arm, and Ritsumeikan University of Japan, through Shoki Kosai, who is also an associate professor and partner in environmental research.

The initiative brought together academia, industry, and local communities to advance sustainable energy solutions for rural electrification.

Tan had already transported second-life solar panels, electrical wiring, ducts and timber for the Orang Asli villagers to construct solar panel racks and a battery house at Kampung Saweh.

The second-life solar panels were donated by Tech Inspiration Systems, and the students tested them to select healthy units capable of generating upwards of 280 Watts each. But solar panels alone cannot provide reliable electricity after sunset. That’s where the battery energy storage system (BESS) comes in.

The battery modules were provided by BMW Malaysia as part of its support for the project, demonstrating the potential of second-life EV battery applications beyond automotive use. These are nickel-cobalt-manganese EV battery modules recovered from warranty replacements.

“I wrote to EV companies in Malaysia seeking partnership for our project. BMW responded and after numerous meetings agreed to support our project,” said Tan.

What the UM team did

Tan explained that his team developed proprietary technology for the project at the smart grid research laboratory of Universiti Malaya’s power energy dedicated advanced centre, testing and repurposing battery components before transporting them into the Pahang jungle.

The energy centre, established in 2000, focuses on renewable energy, power electronics, energy storage, smart grids and related technologies.

“The team has developed proprietary technology for this BESS project, with students working late into the night in the lab testing and repurposing battery components before transporting them into the jungle.”

The actual installation was another challenge. Over an intense five days and four nights, the team worked to integrate the solar panels, electrical controls and 30 battery modules. They had to cook their own food — instant noodles for most of them — and sleep on the cold floor of the community hall.

The most time-consuming task was wiring the battery modules in what Tan called the “battery house” — a low-carbon bamboo hut built by the villagers. There was something rather appealing about this contrast: sophisticated batteries that once powered premium German EVs now housed in a traditional bamboo structure in the Pahang jungle.

A chance to watch TV

The system will serve 20 Orang Asli households, with each household allocated around 3kWh daily. This allocation is sufficient based on Tan’s prior research into rural households’ electricity usage behaviour; Tan has more than 10 years of experience in rural electrification projects.

He said that one of the most important factors for a successful adoption of a battery storage system was engagement with the community. “Over the years, I’ve learnt that it needs several meetings with a Tok Batin and the community to gauge their commitment or adopt another kampung. We’ve been fortunate with this settlement. They’ve contributed more than I expected.”

And what were the villagers most excited about? The opportunity to watch Malaysia’s national television channels at night!

It was a reminder that what urban Malaysians take for granted can be a major improvement in the quality of life for isolated rural communities.

However, a standalone solar-battery system cannot provide unlimited electricity supply. Tan has asked the connected households to keep their nightly consumption within an agreed limit, so that the stored energy can not only last through the night but also allow the batteries to achieve their projected lifespan of many years.

There is a bigger story here for Malaysia’s rapidly growing EV industry.

Making recycling work

Many EV batteries retain substantial storage capacity even after they are no longer suitable for automotive use. As the data from the US indicates, most have demonstrated around 70% remaining state of health after prolonged service of up to 20 years, although this varies considerably.

Repurposing suitable batteries for stationary energy storage could extend their useful lives by years.

Tan also highlighted a weakness in Malaysia’s recycling ecosystem. Some scrap dealers, he said, purchased discarded EV batteries under the mistaken impression that their weight indicated large quantities of valuable recyclable metal.

There are only four companies in Malaysia that are licensed to recycle EV batteries now. Unlike Europe, which is introducing battery passports to improve traceability, Malaysia has yet to establish a comparable comprehensive system.

The Kampung Saweh project demonstrates how properly tested second-life EV batteries can provide useful energy storage instead of prematurely entering the waste stream.

For our volunteer 4×4 transporters from the Land Rover Exchange community, the expedition was another reminder that off-roading needn’t be just about adventure. Sometimes, the most satisfying destination is a remote village where a little goodwill, university ingenuity and discarded EV batteries can bring something as simple — and meaningful — as television after sunset.

Yamin Vong is on Facebook at yamin.com.my, and can be contacted at [email protected].

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.

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