NAME
Pablo Castellanos Ramelli
TITLE
Co-Founder & COO, BATx
LOCATION
Medellín, Colombia
ABOUT
Pablo Castellanos Ramelli is the co-founder and COO of BATx – Sustainable Energy Storage, a youth-led start-up in Latin America that focuses on extending the life of lithium-ion batteries through repair, refurbishment, and repurposing for second-life applications. BATx specializes in diagnosing electric vehicle (EV) batteries and transforming them into affordable, sustainable energy storage systems for renewable energy sources such as solar power, in addition to repairing and refurbishing batteries for light mobility vehicles.
MOTIVATIONS
“Coming from Colombia I am moved by the power of nature. Our diverse regions, ecosystems and biodiversity drive me to find ways in which modern life can settle into the balance that our world demands. I think that young entrepreneurs have a key role in reaching this balance. We are the makers of the world’s future economy and it falls upon us to generate a completely novel way of accelerating sustainability and development. I believe that new and greener technologies bring the possibility for the betterment of people’s lives while sustaining life on earth and sea.
I began my journey in the context of Colombia’s historic 2016 peace treaty, where I witnessed the dire need to accelerate SDG implementation in developing countries. I worked for two years on academic research on urban sustainability. The way in which we live and move is essential to containing the effects of the climate crisis. From this experience came the idea of founding BATx alongside my best friend: employing the batteries left behind by the EV market and employing them as a high quality and low price solution for photovoltaic generation. Hence, accelerating the decarbonization of mobility and accelerating a Just Energy Transition at the same time.”
IMPACTS
Before
While challenges persist, before the introduction of BATx, the management of EV batteries in Colombia and much of Latin America followed a linear consumption model. Batteries were often prematurely decommissioned, treated as hazardous waste, or stored without reuse, leading to unnecessary waste and underutilization of valuable resources. Additionally, there was no infrastructure in place to diagnose, repair, or repurpose these batteries for second-life applications, which led to increased extraction of raw materials for new batteries and posed growing environmental hazards from battery disposal.
After
With BATx’s approach, the situation has changed significantly. The company developed a patent-pending diagnostic methodology that identifies the true state of used EV batteries, enabling repair, refurbishment, and repurposing. As a result, BATx has extended the life of these batteries, giving them a second life in energy storage systems for renewable energy projects and backup power. This reduces electronic waste, limits the need for new materials, and lowers the overall environmental footprint of energy storage and mobility systems.
BATx has made energy more accessible and cost-effective by providing affordable energy storage solutions for renewable energy sources such as solar power. The company has also created local jobs for youth and developed a circular economy model that did not previously exist in the region.
Besides impacting industries like electric mobility, PV generation, and power backup, BATx has also undertaken rural electrification projects. These efforts integrate the environmental benefits of a battery circular economy with social advantages, bringing sustainable and affordable energy to remote communities whic help enhance access to food security, education, connectivity, and healthcare.
Key achievements:
CHALLENGES
As a young entrepreneur, Pablo faced challenges in proving that youth can lead innovation in sustainability. Initially, there was scepticism about the capacity of young people to deliver impactful results in the renewable energy sector. By working tirelessly, the BATx team demonstrated their ability to create change in the industry through their innovative business model.
Building a start-up from scratch while still in university posed additional challenges, but Pablo and his team managed to overcome them by adapting to market conditions and maintaining a diligent approach. Over time, their progress and successful outcomes attracted more opportunities, and BATx became a leader in the sustainable battery industry in Latin America.
GOALS
“We envision BATx as a key player of the region’s energy market, driving a new generation filled with purpose. It is our firm belief that the energy sector must reinvent itself in order to hold sustainability in its core. Latin America holds the world’s most decarbonized energy grid, achieved by relying on hydro. We are certain that the diversification of this matrix with more renewable sources is within reach. By harnessing the region’s trailblazing mobility electrification (e.g. both of the world’s largest e-bus fleets -outside of China- are in this region), we can also become world leaders in energy storage for PV and wind generation.”
PABLO’S ADVICE
“Keep going! Prove what you’re capable of. Don’t let scepticism hold you back. Work diligently with what you have at your disposal and prove results, communicate them adequately. Opportunities will gradually grow as you keep going. Focus on your team: add strengths to make an outstanding team that can make plans come true. It’s not about coming up with a “million dollar idea”, it’s about being able to bring change into reality. Keep working with determination and don’t stop knocking on doors of opportunities.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
BATx is at the forefront of efforts to create sustainable energy solutions in Latin America by extending the life of lithium-ion batteries. Here’s how Pablo says you can support:
“A great way of supporting us is inviting us to speak and participates in events where we can further spread the impact of circular economy and energy transition,” adds Pablo.
CONTACT
Meet Neal Spackman, a regenerative development visionary bringing transformative change to degraded landscapes and communities worldwide.
Through projects like the Al Baydha Project and Regenerative Seawater Agriculture (RSA), Neal is breathing life back into ecosystems while creating sustainable livelihoods.
Meet Gator Halpern, Co-founder and President of Coral Vita, who’s scaling coral restoration to combat ocean warming. By cultivating resilient corals in high-tech farms, Coral Vita restores damaged reefs in the Bahamas and beyond, safeguarding biodiversity and supporting local economies.
Meet Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, whose work is transforming how sports and culture can contribute to a more sustainable world. As the environmental adviser to the New York Yankees, NBA, and Broadway, Allen is helping iconic institutions engage millions in the climate conversation, setting new standards for environmental action in these influential spaces.
Meet Rajesh Shah, Managing Trustee of VIKAS Centre for Development, championing community-led climate resilience through the Great Green Wall of Gujarat. Rajesh’s initiative empowers marginalized communities to restore coastal ecosystems while creating sustainable livelihoods.
