B2U and Waymo partner to give autonomous EV fleet batteries a second life
B2U Storage Solutions has announced a strategic supply agreement with autonomous driving pioneer Waymo, to repurpose batteries from their fleet of electric vehicles once retired from automotive use.
The used battery packs will be installed into battery energy storage systems interconnected to the electric grid, and will provide grid services in electricity markets from California to Texas, where Waymo’s autonomous fleet is already active.
The partnership aims to create a sustainable pipeline for used EV batteries, fortifying local power grids with reliable energy storage and directly addressing electronic waste. The initiative will transition thousands of retired vehicles from the road to the power sector.
B2U’s technology repurposes EV batteries into battery energy storage systems, capturing residual value that would otherwise be lost in direct recycling.
Once deployed as stationary storage, the systems will capture excess renewable energy during periods of low demand and dispatch it during peak usage times, providing necessary capacity to the power grid.
B2U manages the units through their second lives, ensuring proper recycling after the batteries’ residual value has been realized.
“This agreement marks a significant milestone in B2U’s mission to provide integrated repurposing services to the automotive industry,” said Freeman Hall, CEO of B2U Storage Solution. “By extending the use of these batteries as grid storage, we are monetizing the full potential of EV batteries.”
“Our shared fleet of EVs provide a massive opportunity to support the growth of clean energy on the electricity grid while expanding the circular economy,” said Adam Lenz, Head of Sustainability & Environment at Waymo. “Through this partnership, we can repurpose our batteries for local grid storage and ensure our batteries continue to provide economic and environmental value to the community long after they’ve retired from the road.”
Source: B2U Storage Solutions
