Waymo partners with B2U to repurpose retired robotaxi batteries for grid-scale energy storage

Waymo said it will give retired robotaxi batteries a second life as grid-scale energy storage, partnering with B2U Storage Solutions to repurpose battery packs that are no longer suitable for use in its autonomous vehicles. The companies said the first projects will be in California and Texas, two states where Waymo already operates ride-hailing services, and Waymo said the deal could eventually involve hundreds of megawatts of storage capacity.

The move addresses a basic problem in electric vehicles: batteries wear down over time from repeated charging, use, and environmental conditions. In Waymo’s case, the vehicles may outlast the battery packs themselves, as the company noted in explaining why the batteries are being pulled from service before the cars are otherwise done working. Instead of sending those packs straight to recycling, the partnership will keep them in use longer in stationary storage systems.

According to reports from TechCrunch and Electrek, the retired batteries will be installed in grid-connected facilities that can store electricity when supply is plentiful and release it when demand rises. That can help balance power grids, particularly as more renewable energy comes online and output from wind and solar fluctuates throughout the day. B2U says repurposed EV batteries can continue operating safely and efficiently for several more years before they are eventually recycled.

The arrangement also reflects a broader industry trend toward “second-life” battery use. Battery repurposing companies, including B2U and Redwood Materials, are building businesses around extracting more value from EV batteries before they are broken down for materials. TechCrunch noted that Redwood, which is backed in part by Waymo parent Alphabet, has also expanded into second-life storage.

For Waymo, the partnership offers a way to extend the economic and environmental value of batteries after they leave the road. Adam Lenz, Waymo’s head of sustainability and environment, said the company wants its batteries to continue providing value to communities after their automotive life ends, while B2U chief executive Freeman Hall said the goal is to “monetize the full potential” of EV batteries as power demand keeps growing.

What happens next will depend on how quickly the first storage projects are deployed in California and Texas and how much capacity the partnership ultimately brings online. But the agreement points to a practical path for the growing number of EV batteries that still have usable energy left when vehicle performance no longer meets driving requirements.