- Stellantis is repurposing retired 15kWh EV batteries into smaller modules for mobility applications in Turin.
- Italdesign's Avathor One uses reconfigured 1.4kWh or 2.8kWh packs, enabling up to 50km range.
- Avathor One includes wheelchair access and collision sensors, with market launches planned from 2025.
Stellantis is giving its old electric-vehicle batteries a fresh lease on life, this time inside a pint-sized mobility EV designed by Italdesign, part of the Volkswagen Group.
The Avathor One, developed with Turin-based start-up Avathor, takes reconfigured Stellantis modules and turns them into energy for a vehicle built for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.
SUSTAINera, Stellantis’ circular-economy arm, oversees the collection of packs from retired models at its Mirafiori hub. Local partner Intent S.r.l. then dismantles the 15kWh modules, repackaging them into either 1.4kWh or 2.8kWh batteries. Depending on configuration, the Avathor One can travel up to 50km between charges, with a top speed limited to 10km/h.
WheeM-i concept becomes reality
If the silhouette looks familiar, that’s because the Avathor One evolved from Italdesign’s 2019 WheeM-i concept. Production versions measure just 1,486 mm long yet pack car-like tech: LED headlights, a rear-view camera, and collision-avoidance sensors that recognise obstacles and pedestrians. A rear ramp accommodates wheelchairs, while joystick controls and a pull-out bench make short trips easier for those with limited mobility.
This diminutive EV can also tackle gradients up to 20% and manage steps up to 8cm high. According to Avathor, an Italian launch is planned for later this year, Spain follows in 2026, and other markets in 2027.
Batteries with a second act
The Avathor One isn’t Stellantis’ only second-life venture. Through SUSTAINera, the company also partners on larger projects such as the ENEL X Pioneer system at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport - an installation expected to cut CO₂ emissions by 16,000 tonnes over a decade by storing renewable energy.
Stellantis joins a growing list of automakers, including Nissan, Renault, BMW, Kia, Geely, Jaguar, Toyota, Honda, Skoda and Audi, reworking used packs for stationary storage or alternative mobility. But this Turin-based collaboration shows how old batteries can find an immediate, human-focused purpose rather than gathering dust in a warehouse.
