- Waymo announced a partnership with B2U Storage Solutions to repurpose its spent robotaxi batteries for grid storage.
- The deal covers roughly 1,800 battery packs that Waymo expects to pull from service over the next two years. Each pack holds about 70 kWh, giving the project a total capacity of around 120 MWh once fully deployed. Waymo says the first storage sites will go live in 2027, with the batteries integrated into existing utility infrastructure.
- Reusing the packs could shave years off the typical 10‑year retirement timeline for electric‑vehicle batteries and provide a low‑cost, quickly‑available source of grid storage. For utilities, the bulk supply offers a way to smooth renew‑energy peaks without waiting for new commercial‑scale batteries.
- The move is a pragmatic twist on the hype around autonomous fleets – instead of discarding hardware, Waymo is turning a by‑product into a utility asset, albeit one that depends on a willing grid partner.