Waymo's robotaxi fleet has a second-life problem worth solving — and a partner that wants the batteries. On June 4, 2026, B2U Storage Solutions and Waymo announced a multi-state supply agreement under which used EV battery packs from Waymo's electric robotaxi fleet will be repurposed into grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems supplying ancillary services across California and Texas.
From Robotaxi To Substation
B2U's patent-pending EV Pack Storage architecture lets the company plug used automotive packs into stationary BESS installations without dismantling the cells. According to the announcement, packs typically retain 70% to 80% of their original capacity when they are pulled from automotive duty — more than enough for years of useful service running grid arbitrage, frequency response and capacity contracts. The partnership formalizes a pipeline that B2U has been refining at its Sierra and Cuyama sites, where it already operates more than 70 MWh of repurposed second-life storage.
Why Waymo Said Yes
Waymo is scaling fast. The Alphabet subsidiary is now operating thousands of robotaxis across a widening international footprint and the U.S. Sun Belt, with rides backed by a steady supply of new Jaguar I-PACE and Hyundai IONIQ 5 platforms tied to its UberAV and Hyundai sourcing partnerships. Every replacement vehicle leaves a partially-degraded battery looking for a productive second life. Routing those packs to B2U keeps cells out of the recycling-shredder stream for additional years and creates a measurable sustainability story that Waymo can put alongside competing robotaxi fleets.
Pressure On Grid-Scale Storage
The deal lands as developers race to add stationary storage capacity to support data-center load growth, EV charging and renewables firming. While most projects still use new lithium-iron-phosphate cells — including EnergyX's $230 million Wildcat plant and a wave of utility-scale Tesla Megapack deployments — second-life storage is increasingly attractive because the batteries are amortized assets that arrive with established cell chemistry data. For B2U, locking in supply from one of the country's most active autonomous fleets is a structural advantage as competitors scramble for inventory.
Financial terms were not disclosed. B2U said the first packs from Waymo's fleet are already being integrated into its operating BESS sites and will begin earning revenue this year.
Reporting based on coverage from GlobeNewswire, Waymo's blog, Electrive and Renewable Energy World.