Waymo and B2U partner to repurpose robotaxi batteries for grid storage

Waymo and B2U Storage Solutions have announced a strategic supply agreement to repurpose lithium-ion batteries from Waymo’s autonomous robotaxi fleet for stationary energy storage. The deal, confirmed on June 4, allows B2U to source batteries from vehicles at the end of their operational lifespan or those swapped out during proactive maintenance. This initiative aims to provide hundreds of megawatt-hours of additional storage capacity, leveraging the high residual capacity of cells even after significant degradation from high-mileage autonomous use.

B2U will receive batteries for projects in California and Texas, including a facility in Lancaster, Los Angeles County, and a 24 megawatt-hour energy storage project in Bexar County, Texas. The Bexar County installation is positioned to support Waymo’s growing deployment in San Antonio. B2U’s Lancaster facility already houses more than 1,300 repurposed electric vehicle batteries, and the company has begun receiving smaller initial quantities from the Waymo fleet.

Waymo’s current fleet of nearly 4,000 vehicles primarily consists of Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles with 90 kWh lithium-ion batteries and the Zeekr Ojai robotaxi with a 93 kWh battery. Adam Lenz, head of sustainability and environment at Waymo, stated that proactive maintenance includes identifying opportunities to refresh batteries to improve overall fleet efficiency. He noted that these second-life applications are viable because there is still significant life left in the batteries, even as vehicles accumulate mileage beyond what a normal consumer drives.

The partnership creates a circular supply chain where used batteries bolster the local power grids that Waymo vehicles rely upon for charging. Freeman Hall, CEO of B2U Storage Solutions, highlighted that Waymo’s rapid expansion and high daily mileage make the fleet a valuable source of residual capacity. While Waymo did not specify the average mileage at which it swaps out batteries, industry data suggests that even with degradation, batteries retain substantial capacity after several years of use.

This agreement aligns with a broader trend of increased battery energy storage installations in the United States. A report by the Solar Energy Industries Association indicated that US stationary storage installations reached 9.7 gigawatt hours in the first quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, marking the largest first quarter in history. B2U, which manages more than 4,000 EV battery packs across its projects, sees the Waymo partnership as a way to meet high demand for storage while extending the usefulness of lithium-ion batteries.