Waymo's Retired Robotaxi Batteries to Power Grids: A Green Move
Waymo partners with B2U for a novel solution where retired robotaxi batteries are repurposed as grid storage in California and Texas, marking an eco-friendly transition.
Admin User
Waymo has made a significant stride towards sustainable energy practices by partnering with B2U, an energy storage company, to repurpose retired robotaxi batteries. This move aims to address the end-of-life treatment of thousands of Waymo’s robotaxis and simultaneously enhance grid capacity in California and Texas.
Almost all of Waymo's current fleet consists of Jaguar I-Pace EVs, with a recent addition of Zeekr vans. However, as these vehicles reach their operational limits, the partnership with B2U offers a promising solution. The deal involves deploying “hundreds of megawatts of storage capacity,” although specific details are still limited.
B2U is among several companies focusing on battery repurposing rather than complete recycling. Another notable player in this space is Redwood Materials, founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel and supported by Alphabet (Waymo’s parent company). Redwood has already launched its own second-life storage business using old EV batteries.
