Audi e-tron batteries on electric tuk-tuks

Three prototypes will be put into circulation in a few months.

A car battery can have multiple lives. Even used, it still performs satisfactorily on lightweight and low-power vehicles. Numan, a non-profit German-Indian startup, proves this once again with its electric tuk-tuks.

The project is carried out in collaboration with Audi’s environmental foundation, which provides the necessary funding. The battery modules come from e-tron vehicles that have reached the end of their lifecycle. Although they have lost some efficiency, they will still be more than sufficient for cycle taxis. Low energy consumption and primarily used for short trips, these vehicles have the ideal profile for this type of initiative.

Solar Power for Clean Recharging

Numan plans to deploy 3 electric tuk-tuks at the beginning of next year. For recharging, the startup will prioritize solar stations that it has developed itself. This will help avoid burdening an electricity grid that is mainly powered by coal.

“Car batteries are designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle. But even after their initial use in a vehicle, they still retain much of their power”, comments Prodip Chatterjee, co-founder of Numan. “For vehicles with lower autonomy and power needs, as well as lighter total weight, they are extremely promising.”

This second life cycle is not necessarily the last, as Numan plans to use the batteries in small electrical devices afterward. Modules that have degraded too much for e-bikes, for example, could be repurposed to power LED lighting. “We want to make the most of each battery before recycling it”, explains Prodip Chatterjee on this matter.

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