Repurposing EV batteries for grid storage

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Jul 24, 2025

Colin Campbell, Chief Technology Officer of Redwood Materials and expert in battery recycling, discusses the intriguing world of repurposing electric vehicle batteries for grid storage. He highlights how advancements in software management and cost-efficiency have made this process profitable. Colin emphasizes that even short lifespans for repurposed batteries can be valuable, especially for long-duration storage. The conversation also dives into the competitive landscape against new battery systems and the exciting potential of transforming end-of-life batteries into vital energy resources.

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INSIGHT

End-of-Life EV Batteries Still Valuable

EV batteries often still have 80% capacity when retired from vehicles. - They can be repurposed for grid storage, extending their useful life economically.

INSIGHT

Quick Testing Enables Repurposing

Most batteries passing a brief mechanical and electrical inspection can be repurposed for grid storage. - This process is quick and identifies 95% of packs suitable for reuse.

INSIGHT

Low Cost Makes Short Life Viable

Second-life batteries need only a short remaining life to be economically viable on the grid. - Low-cost integration and swap techniques reduce deployment cost and improve profitability.

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The job of an EV battery is unforgiving. If its performance slips too far — say, lost acceleration or range — it's probably off to the recycling heap. That’s even though it may have plenty of usable life, if only for something less demanding than powering a vehicle.

Grid storage is theoretically a gentler job, involving slower discharging and more careful management. Still, repurposing isn’t easy. It requires dealing with a mishmash of various makes, models, and levels of quality. And it means competing against the falling price of new, purpose-built storage systems.

But a few companies have said they’ve figured it out, including Redwood Materials, which supplied a second-life data center microgrid this year.

So how does second-life storage on the grid actually work?

In this episode, Shayle talks to Colin Campbell, chief technology officer of battery recycler Redwood Materials. Colin explains how, in just the past year, the company has found cost-effective ways to repurpose batteries before recycling them. Shayle and Colin cover topics like:

What has changed to make repurposing profitable, including better software management and high-volume, low-cost supply

Why, for Redwood, second-life batteries only need a short lifespan to be worth it

Why second-life systems are especially well-suited for long-duration storage

What it takes to compete with the falling prices of new LFP systems

Resources:

Latitude Media: Crusoe and Redwood Materials are powering a data center with old EV batteries

Latitude Media: Millions of EV batteries could retire on solar farms

Latitude Media: The challenging economics of battery recycling

Credits: Hosted by Shayle Kann. Produced and edited by Daniel Woldorff. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor.

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