Making money with batteries

The lithium battery market is booming, and there are plenty of business opportunities for entrepreneurs.

In response to the many questions we receive, we’ve put together five ways for you to get started in this sector.

1. Lithium battery purchase/resale (Trade)

This is the most accessible business to start with. It requires few technical skills and focuses mainly on the commercial aspect.

• What does it involve? Buying batteries, often in Asia, for resale on local markets.
• Growth markets: Solar panels and electric vehicles are the sectors with the greatest demand.
• Skills required: A good commercial sense and a network of customers are essential.
• Points to watch: Margins can be quite low, and after-sales service can be complex.

2. Lithium battery repair (after-sales service)

Battery repair is a sector in high demand, as there is a shortage of qualified technicians on the market.

• What does it involve? This involves repairing faulty batteries. This often involves recharging cells, replacing faulty ones or reprogramming the BMS (Battery Management System).
• Skills required: High school level knowledge of electricity is sufficient. Voltage and current calculations, as well as series and parallel connections, must be mastered.
• Advantages: Margins are comfortable, and this activity allows you to develop your skills and move on to other services.
• Personal qualities: Rigor, seriousness and motivation are major assets.

3. Lithium battery retrofit and reuse

Reusing used batteries to give them a second life is a booming opportunity.

• What does it involve? Recover batteries, test them, then recondition them into new batteries for new applications.
• Growth markets: The market is very keen on ecological and economical solutions.
• Skills required: In-depth technical knowledge of cell types, BMS, as well as electrical, IT and DIY skills are required.
• Advantages: The potential is unlimited, the market is constantly growing and a good network of suppliers is relatively easy to develop.
• Personal qualities: This is a passionate activity that requires a lot of personal investment.

4. Lithium battery recycling

Recycling batteries, which involves separating the raw materials, is an onerous but essential activity.

• What does it involve? The business focuses on the separation of battery components to recover materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and others.
• Skills required: This is a sector that requires heavy financial investment (at least €200,000 for a recycling line) and a lot of red tape. It is often reserved for companies in the recycling sector.
• Market: Highly promising, but also tightly controlled by existing players.
• Personal qualities: You need strong financial and administrative skills to get started.

5. Lithium battery development and innovation

Creating an innovative product is an exciting but demanding option.

• What does it involve? Design and develop a new battery-related product or equipment.
• Skills required: A wide range of skills are required, including technical, design, IT and, of course, entrepreneurial skills.