Overview
- Researchers from Chonnam National University and the Korea Energy Economics Institute find that transparent safety inspections are pivotal for public acceptance of energy storage using retired EV batteries.
- The analysis, published in the Journal of Energy Storage in 2025, uses consumer surveys, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling to differentiate general attitudes from local NIMBY responses.
- The team estimates the second-life battery sector could reach about $4.2 billion by 2035, noting the projection depends on standardized inspections and certification that earn consumer trust.
- EV batteries are typically retired at 70–80% capacity after eight to ten years, leaving substantial capability for stationary storage that can lower electricity costs and emissions compared with systems using new batteries.
- The authors recommend institute-backed certification demonstrating low explosion risk, proximity-specific messaging for communities, and targeting innovative early adopters to move projects from abstract support to local deployment.