A 100% Belgian manufacturer of 100% electric vehicles relies on Bebat
On the occasion of the #mobilityweek 2020 , Agoria presented the Addax Motors project on urban logistics involving small electric vans.
100% electric utility vehicles from a 100% Belgian manufacturer: it's an appealing story. Not only because they are sustainable, emission-free and silent, but also because they are versatile. In the blink of an eye, they are ready for other tasks. They show how a relatively small player from Belgium can still be a leader on the bigger playing field.
It is therefore no coincidence that quite a few governments and companies with a sustainable vision choose to walk the talk and opt for Addax.
New generation lithium batteries
For Addax, batteries are the beating heart. Years ago, Addax Motors joined Bebat in order to comply with the take-back obligation for EV batteries in Belgium.
They went one step further, however. Thanks to an individual agreement with Bebat, Addax is also sure that batteries are safely collected, transported and processed after they have been damaged or when they reach the end of their service life. And all this is done 100% by the book. “That's one big worry less,” says Christophe Wauthier, responsible for after-sales.
What type of batteries are we referring to exactly?
Christophe: “Our EV batteries are lithium batteries of the new generation, lithium iron phosphate batteries. This allows our vehicles to be charged at any time of the day without reducing the total battery charge. There is never any waiting for the vehicle to be fully discharged.
Our batteries are also cobalt-free and easier to recycle. This reduces their environmental and social impact. We manufacture our batteries ourselves using the cells we buy; we like to know what's inside. The heaviest battery weighs 157 kg.”
They know that lithium batteries must always be handled with care. And they do handle them with care. However, Addax has no experience so far with end-of-life batteries. They have experience with waste cells, but not yet with full waste packs.
“The cell manufacturer provides us with a guarantee of 3,000 full charge cycles. In reality, the number of recharges does not really play a role, because it never ranges from 0 to 100%. Normally, such a battery lasts at least 5 years. However, for the same amount of money, it also lasts much longer.”
We are not looking forward to end-of-life batteries, but we are also not very concerned about them. Because we have a ready solution.
How do you declare the batteries you have put on the market?
For Addax, an annual declaration of the large batteries they have placed on the Belgian market is sufficient. After all, there are less than 10,000 of them.
“It is very easy for us to make such a declaration using Bebat's online platform. Each year, there is a reminder in our diary for February.”
European assistance from HQ in Belgium
For the collection, transport and recycling of damaged or waste batteries abroad, Addax is delighted that Reneos has been created, the European network that Bebat co-founded.
“We joined Reneos for our distributors abroad. That way, we can centralise the battery aftercare from here. That's an advantage, also in terms of costs. Like that, we can also relieve our end customers of their worries.”
Why is it important not to consider waste batteries as something to worry about in the future, but to conclude an agreement with Bebat now?
“You have to think about them straight away. Simply because the cost of collecting and processing waste batteries is part of your overall cost. And it also has a direct bearing on your long-term footprint. Sustainability is about looking beyond today. In this case, too!”
