Reviving Retired EV Batteries: San Antonio’s Energy Revolution
In a groundbreaking initiative, the batteries from a retired Waymo robotaxi are set to embark on a new journey, finding a second life in San Antonio’s energy landscape. B2U Storage Solutions has launched its second facility in the area, utilizing these batteries to support the Texas electric grid.
B2U Storage Solutions, a company specializing in repurposing vehicle batteries, is now preparing to integrate batteries from Waymo’s Jaguar I-PACE vehicles into its operations in the coming year. The initiative follows the recent activation of the company’s Bexar Martinez site in Converse, Texas, capable of storing 10 megawatts of electricity—a capacity sufficient to power 2,500 homes for four hours during peak summer heat.
“We’re able to give them thousands of cycles more as they transition from their life operating in a vehicle,” stated Mary Cauwels, B2U’s head of product marketing, emphasizing the potential of repurposed batteries.
The Bexar Martinez site joins B2U’s existing 10-megawatt Bexar Corrilla site, operational since late last year, both utilizing repurposed Chevrolet Bolt batteries. In a new venture, B2U has solidified a partnership with Waymo, marking its first contract with a fleet vendor. This collaboration is set to transform the landscape of battery storage and grid power solutions.
Adam Lenz, Waymo’s Head of Sustainability, highlighted the significance of this partnership, noting, “This partnership will eventually repurpose thousands of EV batteries and deploy hundreds of megawatt-hours of energy storage capacity that will provide grid power to local communities that we operate in, both in California and Texas. It really expands on our commitments to growing clean energy solutions.”
The cost-effectiveness of B2U’s systems, which are estimated to be 50% cheaper than Tesla’s utility-scale battery systems, offers substantial savings. According to Cauwels, the strategy bypasses the higher costs of battery recycling by repurposing them instead, creating a mutually beneficial scenario.
‘From Car to Cabinet to Community’
B2U is currently deploying the first batch of Jaguar I-PACE batteries from Waymo, received earlier this year. Cauwels explained that although robotaxi batteries experience faster degradation than personal vehicle batteries, they retain significant inherent value at the end of their vehicular life.
The batteries, with approximately 80% of their capacity remaining, are tested and integrated into B2U cabinets, connecting them to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’s grid. This process allows B2U to quickly transition batteries from “car to cabinet to community,” as Cauwels described.
Safety measures are paramount at B2U storage sites, with ventilated cabinets that mitigate overheating and fire risks. AI-powered cameras monitor for anomalies, ensuring that any defective battery can be swiftly replaced, maintaining operational integrity.
Readying Waymo Batteries for Second Life
B2U is innovating with a new cabinet design intended to house 36 Waymo batteries, with each Waymo vehicle contributing two batteries. This next phase will see the introduction of I-PACE cabinets with a capacity of 2 megawatt-hours, surpassing the current 1.2 megawatt-hour capacity.
The company is also developing a universal cabinet capable of accommodating various EV batteries, facilitating a mixed battery setup that enhances energy storage versatility.
Waymo continues to supply B2U with batteries as they become available, viewing this partnership as a long-term strategy to extend the life and value of its hardware. Despite current operational suspensions in San Antonio due to a flood incident, Waymo remains active in other Texas cities and is committed to this collaborative energy initiative.
Original Story at www.expressnews.com