Value retention of lithium-ion batteries from forklift trucks relies above all on accurate assessment of state of health (SoH), competitive pricing, and the identification of viable second-life applications, particularly in stationary storage. Customer trust, guarantees, and environmental benefits further strengthen reuse potential, although trade-offs such as efficiency losses remain. The study highlights SoH assessment as the most critical enabler of reuse, since current methods lack standardization and reliability, making grading and performance guarantees difficult. Market competitiveness is also decisive, as falling costs of new batteries reduce margins for second-life use. Long-term feasibility is enhanced by matching reduced capacity with less demanding applications, designing for modularity and extended life, and supporting customers with reliable guarantees. Environmental gains, especially reduced raw material extraction and emissions, reinforce value but must be weighed against potential energy losses. Together, these factors determine whether second-life batteries can contribute meaningfully to a circular economy.
Magnusson et al. (Thu,) studied this question.