Waymo partners B2U to reuse robotaxi batteries for storage

The autonomous vehicle company Waymo has announced a partnership to repurpose batteries from its retired electric robotaxis into large-scale energy storage systems for power grids. The initiative, developed with California-based energy storage firm B2U Storage Solutions, will initially focus on projects in California and Texas.

Under the agreement, battery packs that are no longer suitable for vehicle service will be diverted from recycling facilities and instead integrated into stationary storage cabinets. These systems are designed to absorb surplus electricity, particularly from solar generation, and release it back to the grid during periods of high demand, such as evening hours. The companies stated the partnership could eventually deploy hundreds of megawatts of storage capacity.

The effort addresses a specific characteristic of Waymo’s fleet. Company officials explained that because its robotaxis are shared vehicles in constant operation, they accumulate miles much faster than typical passenger cars. This leads to batteries reaching retirement from transportation service sooner, though they often retain substantial capacity for stationary storage. Waymo’s head of...