By improving the usage efficiency of electricity – for example, by cutting the amount used during peak usage times – the new system can cut the cost of electricity and gas used by half

Toyota has announced that, starting in April, it will sell an electricity management system that uses recycled nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries from hybrid vehicles to Toyota dealers in Japan. Most versions of the popular Prius, which first went on sale in 1997, use NiMH batteries. The new Plug-in model, and some versions of the Prius V, use lithium-ion batteries.

The energy management system will be sold via Toyota’s subsidiary, Toyota Turbine and Systems, in combination with Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS), solar carports, solar power generation, LED lighting, and other such energy-conserving products. By improving the usage efficiency of electricity – for example, by cutting the amount used during peak usage times – the new system can cut the cost of electricity and gas used by a single dealership by half, according to the company.

The system can also provide backup electricity during power outages. It has a storage capacity of 10 kWh, weighs about 980 kg, and is about 1.9 meters high and 1.1 meters wide.

In November, GM and ABB demonstrated a larger “community energy storage system” made from five used Chevy Volt batteries.

Source: Toyota