One of the benefits electric vehicles have that gas and diesel vehicles do not is that EV battery packs can be used again for a second life as stationary energy storage. It’s been 10 years since I wrote this article, and since then EV battery packs have been repurposed for non-mobile energy storage. Yes, for 10 years this EV battery pack repurposing has been happening. Some have also repurposed Nissan Leaf batteries for use in a data center in France. Now, second-life EV batteries will be used in the US at a Rivian factory and they will be Rivian’s own batteries. In fact, over 100 Rivian EV batteries will be used to make a 10 megawatt-hour energy storage system in Normal, Illinois. The system will use the Redwood Pack Manager. “EVs represent a massive, distributed and highly competitive energy resource. Our partnership with Redwood enables us to utilise our vehicle’s batteries beyond the life of a vehicle and contribute to grid health and American competitiveness.” Of course, a used gas or diesel vehicle cannot be used to create an energy storage system only running on electricity. The fact that EVs can be used for this beneficial purpose demonstrates just one way they are superior. Some people might like to claim new batteries are cheap enough now that it isn’t necessary to reclaim used EV batteries and repurpose them. Why not repurpose existing technology for a second life, though? The Rivian second-life energy storage system can be scaled beyond 10 MWh, and presumably the EV manufacturer has or will have more used battery packs to expand it. This comment is pure speculation, but I wonder if it could be possible for Rivian to become adept enough with making second-life energy storage systems that a business opportunity arises. Is there a market for second-life energy storage systems made by Rivian? Is there a work flow for removing an old battery back with an 80 kWh capacity to use in a local business or perhaps on a farm? The source article actually has an error in it and repeats a myth: that EV batteries last only about 5–7 years. EV batteries actually may last 40 percent longer than was previously assumed. Many EV batteries last 10 years or more — even up to 20 years — for their original purpose of powering electric vehicles. After their first life, some may then also be used for energy storage systems for many more years.
