Waymo has signed a deal to send retired robotaxi batteries to the electrical grid instead of recycling them, where they'll store solar energy and help balance power demand across California and Texas. The partnership with B2U Storage Solutions marks a shift in how the autonomous vehicle industry handles battery waste, turning what would normally be discarded hardware into a valuable resource for renewable energy storage.

Why Are Robotaxi Batteries Ideal for Grid Storage?

Robotaxis operate almost constantly, racking up miles far faster than a typical personal vehicle. Because of this intensive use, Waymo's fleet of mostly Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles and new Zeekr vans reaches the point where their batteries need replacement while still retaining 70 to 80 percent of their original capacity. For a stationary grid storage system that doesn't need to power a two-ton vehicle, that remaining charge is more than sufficient.

B2U has already proven this model works. The company operates a site in Lancaster, California that pairs solar generation with more than 1,300 repurposed EV batteries, and it runs connected projects in Texas that sell stored power back to the grid when prices and demand peak. The economics are straightforward: large-scale storage built from used battery packs costs less than purchasing new cells for the same job.

How Does This Support Clean Energy Goals?

The timing aligns perfectly with the energy challenges facing both states. As of 2026, California runs on fully clean power an average of 6.1 hours per day, while Texas leads the nation in new solar capacity. All that midday sunshine needs somewhere to go after dark, and battery storage acts as the bridge between peak generation and peak demand.

Waymo says the program will deploy hundreds of megawatts of storage capacity across the grids in its operating cities, beginning with Texas and California, though the company has not yet shared a specific timeline or final capacity figure.

"Our shared fleet of EVs provide a massive opportunity to support the growth of clean energy on the electricity grid while expanding the circular economy. Through this partnership, we can repurpose our batteries for local grid storage and ensure our batteries continue to provide economic and environmental value to the community long after they've retired from the road," said Adam Lenz, Head of Sustainability and Environment at Waymo.

Adam Lenz, Head of Sustainability and Environment at Waymo

What Is the Broader Market Opportunity?

Waymo is far from alone in recognizing the value of second-life EV batteries. The global second-life EV battery sector was valued at approximately 1.3 billion dollars in 2026 and is projected to reach roughly 7.6 billion dollars by 2034, according to analysts at Fortune Business Insights. Part of that growth stems from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, which are consuming electricity faster than utilities can build new generation capacity, making used battery packs an attractive way to bring storage online without waiting years for fresh hardware.

Redwood Materials, a recycling company founded by former Tesla Chief Technology Officer JB Straubel and backed in part by Waymo's parent company Alphabet, has launched its own storage division and secured deals with General Motors and Rivian. Industry experts argue that the United States could need more than 600 gigawatt-hours of storage by 2030, and the millions of aging EV batteries already on American roads represent a ready-made supply.

Steps to Understanding the Battery Repurposing Process

• Fleet Operation: Robotaxis accumulate mileage at a much faster rate than consumer vehicles, causing their batteries to degrade more quickly and reach replacement thresholds sooner while retaining substantial usable capacity.
• Battery Assessment: Packs are evaluated to confirm they retain 70 to 80 percent of original capacity, which is sufficient for stationary grid storage applications even if unsuitable for vehicle propulsion.
• Grid Integration: Whole battery packs are installed into B2U's storage cabinets and connected to the electrical grid, where they absorb excess solar energy during peak generation hours and discharge power during periods of high demand.

"This agreement marks a significant milestone in B2U's mission to provide integrated repurposing services to the automotive industry. By extending the use of these batteries as grid storage, we are monetizing the full potential of EV batteries, now providing crucial stability to the power grid as energy demand continues to grow," said Freeman Hall, CEO of B2U Storage Solutions.

Freeman Hall, CEO of B2U Storage Solutions

The Waymo and B2U partnership demonstrates how the autonomous vehicle industry can create circular economic value beyond transportation. Rather than treating worn-out batteries as waste, the companies are extending their useful life and contributing to grid stability in regions where renewable energy adoption is accelerating. As more robotaxi fleets operate across the country, the volume of available second-life batteries will only increase, making this model increasingly important for both the automotive and energy sectors.