Waymo’s decommissioned robotaxi battery modules are now being used as backup power for utility grids.
The autonomous‑driving unit donated hundreds of its used lithium‑ion packs to two pilot schemes: a 30‑MW / 120 MWh installation in Southern California and a 20‑MW / 80 MWh site in West Texas. The batteries, originally designed for 5‑year vehicle service, have been re‑certified, repackaged into stationary containers, and hooked up to existing substations. The projects aim to demonstrate that second‑life packs can meet grid‑scale performance standards without major retrofits.
If the trials hold up, utilities could tap a growing pool of EV batteries to smooth intermittent solar and wind output, cutting the need for fresh factory‑built storage. That would lower capital costs and reduce waste, addressing two pressures on the energy sector at once.
The effort is still early‑stage, and the packs must prove they can survive harsher temperature swings than a car cabin. Still, it’s a practical test of recycling promises that have lingered since electric‑vehicle rollouts began.