en.Wedoany.com Reported - Waymo has found a new use for the power batteries of its autonomous vehicles, repurposing retired battery packs for solar energy storage to support the power grid instead of sending them directly to recycling facilities. The autonomous driving company is partnering with California-based energy storage firm B2U Storage Solutions to give aging electric vehicle batteries a second life, initially focusing on California and Texas.
Unlike private vehicles, Waymo's fleet operates with robotaxis spending more time on the road and accumulating far greater mileage than typical passenger cars. Adam Lenz, the company's head of sustainability and environment, noted that because the vehicles operate as shared transportation assets rather than private items idle for most of the day, utilization rates are higher. This model means battery packs exit vehicle service earlier, but many still retain sufficient capacity for several more years of stationary energy storage. The partnership with B2U aims to capture this residual value rather than immediately scrapping them.
B2U acquires used battery packs, removes them from vehicles, conducts performance tests, and integrates qualified batteries into large storage cabinets roughly the size of small shipping containers. Each cabinet can hold dozens of repurposed electric vehicle batteries. These systems absorb electricity when renewable energy generation is abundant and electricity prices are low, then feed energy back into the grid when demand rises—especially during evening hours when solar power generation declines. B2U CEO Freeman Hall stated that the company charges batteries when solar and wind energy are plentiful and discharges them when electricity demand increases. The company estimates that one storage cabinet can supply enough electricity to meet the needs of an average household for up to three months.
The project comes as utilities and grid operators seek to manage growing renewable energy sources. California and Texas serve as ideal testing grounds, with both states boasting abundant renewable resources and continuously increasing solar capacity. B2U estimates that each repurposed battery can generate thousands of dollars in additional energy value. For Waymo, the strategy offers another advantage: the company relies on a reliable power supply to sustain its growing robotaxi fleet operations. Adam Lenz said that second-life battery deployments can support renewable energy while helping strengthen the infrastructure that electric vehicles depend on.
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