Irizar e-mobility, EMT Madrid and Iberdrola have launched a joint project for the recycling of electric batteries: a stationary system has been installed at the EMT technical headquarters in Madrid’s Fuencarral district as a static power storage facility, integrating batteries that have reached the end of their first life cycle.
Irizar e-mobility has been developing, producing and installing its own batteries in electric buses for over seven years. Recycling and giving batteries a second life are priorities, which is why the companies are working together to promote and advance the circular economy in this area.
Batteries are key components of electric buses because they store the electrical energy needed to power the motor. In addition, the range depends mainly on the current capacity. Batteries are charged several times a day, which means that the capacity to store energy for vehicle propulsion steadily decreases. Depending on the reduction in function, this eventually necessitates replacement in order to ensure optimum vehicle operation.
EMT Madrid has been using electric buses from Irizar e-mobility in regular service since 2017/18. These are the ‘ie bus’ and, as a BRT variant, also the ‘ie tram’ – all in 12-metre versions.
In this project, the EMT electric buses are charged from decommissioned batteries in a reserve storage facility that is integrated into the operator’s smart charging system to cope with load and consumption peaks during normal charging times. This also optimises the charging process and reduces associated costs. The container can store a maximum of one megawatt hour of energy and deliver 500 kilowatts of charging and discharging power. Charging at low load is planned in order to take advantage of favourable electricity tariffs, which reduces costs. In addition, more green electricity is to be used. The container consists of a total of 15 battery blocks from three Irizar e-mobility vehicles. The container can be connected via the EMT smart charging system to support the daily charging of the municipal operator’s e-bus fleet at its technical headquarters in Fuencarral.
This is not only practical and economical, but also contributes to sustainability and the circular economy. This is because the service life of the batteries is extended, meaning that fewer new ones need to be produced, raw material consumption is reduced and the ecological and social footprint is reduced. All of this promotes public transport as the cleaner, more efficient and more responsible mobility solution.
The project is part of the European PERTE VEC (CAPITAL) programme for Spain.
22.12.2025
