Stellantis has announced that it is committed to reusing old electric vehicle batteries, and in this regard, it is developing an initiative that repurposes high-voltage battery modules in a “medical device,” the Avathor One.
Designed for people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility, the Avathor One is an electric model that allows for a second life for old electric vehicle batteries, while also fulfilling Stellantis’ plan to implement a Circular Economy model for resources, components, and materials.
Launched in April and presented by Italdesign at Expo 2025 Osaka in August, the Avathor One utilizes 15 kWh battery modules that are being dismantled from old vehicles of the Stellantis brands. After separating the defective modules from those in good condition, they are assembled into new battery packs and integrated into the Avathor One, which uses batteries with a storage capacity of 1.4 kWh for short distances or 2.8 kWh for long distances.
The project has the support of four partners. Stellantis, through its circular economy brand Sustainera, contributes used batteries from the Turin area, while Intent develops the technical implementation of the project and provides the appropriate battery management system. On its part, the startup Avathor developed the new vehicle One, and Italdesign, the design studio under the auspices of Audi AG, handles commercialization.
Remember that this is not Stellantis’s first circular economy project, as it recently announced its involvement in the Pioneer project, a 10 MWh energy storage system that utilizes used batteries from Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis, and which is integrated at Fiumicino Airport, also known as Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, in Italy.
The initiative is part of the ambition of airport infrastructure to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 and demonstrates the potential of “end-of-life” electric vehicle technology to provide clean and flexible energy beyond its use in vehicles.
