What will happen to the batteries from 100,000 EVs retiring this year?

Where do old EV batteries end up?

So, your electric car finally gives out. What happens to that giant battery under the floor? Turns out, it’s not trash. Unlike old gas cars that mostly get scrapped, electric vehicle batteries still have value long after their road days end. These powerful packs often keep more than half their original charge.

That leftover energy can be put to good use. From helping run data centers to supporting the power grid, these batteries get a fresh shot at life. It’s a pretty smart way to make the most out of something that still has plenty to give.

This year’s huge wave of retiring EVs

In 2025 alone, over 100,000 electric vehicles in the U.S. will roll off the roads for good. That’s the biggest number ever. It means thousands of tons of batteries are coming out of cars all at once, and that’s just this year.

Instead of letting them pile up or go to waste, companies are rushing to find new uses. This boom is creating fresh jobs and industries that handle these aging power sources. With millions more EVs sold each year, the wave of retiring batteries will keep growing.

These batteries still pack serious power

It might shock you, but most EV batteries still hold more than 50% of their original energy even after years of charging and driving. They’re no longer strong enough to power a car safely for hundreds of miles, but they’re perfect for less demanding jobs.

Instead of sending them to the scrap heap, companies can tap into this leftover energy. These batteries become valuable building blocks for energy storage, acting like giant rechargeable batteries that power everything from factories to rural homes.

Giving old batteries a second act

Instead of ripping batteries apart right away, companies like Redwood Materials test them first. They figure out which batteries can still be used as they are, and which need to be recycled. The good ones are transformed into stationary energy storage systems.

These big battery packs store power from solar or wind, or simply back up the electric grid. It’s an easy way to keep old batteries working without tearing them down to pieces. This approach also cuts costs and uses fewer resources compared to building a brand-new battery from scratch.

Powering AI and hungry data centers

The rise of AI tools, like ChatGPT, means data centers are gobbling up more electricity than ever. They need stable power around the clock. That’s where old EV batteries come in. By storing energy, these second-life batteries can support data centers when the grid struggles.

This makes sure your favorite apps keep running. It also helps avoid sudden spikes in demand that stress power plants. Instead of just sitting in a landfill, these batteries get a new job helping the digital world you use every day keep humming smoothly, all while easing the load on local grids.

Bringing steady power to rural areas

Not every place in America has a rock-solid power grid. Out in rural towns and farming communities, power outages can be a real headache. But by setting up second-life EV batteries linked to solar panels or small wind turbines, people in these areas get reliable electricity.

Even when the main grid is down, these old batteries store energy during the day, then release it at night or in storms. It’s a simple fix that doesn’t require huge new power lines, giving remote areas more energy independence and keeping lights and fridges running when they’re needed most.

Meet Redwood Materials, the trailblazer

Redwood Materials is at the heart of this battery revolution. Started by JB Straubel, one of Tesla’s co-founders, Redwood now handles 90% of all lithium-ion battery recycling and repurposing in North America.

Each year, it deals with batteries equal to about 250,000 electric cars! Redwood recently launched Redwood Energy, a new arm focused on turning old car batteries into massive commercial energy storage units.

Testing and sorting for best new uses

Once Redwood Materials or similar companies get these old batteries, they don’t just toss them onto a conveyor belt. First, each battery pack is safely stored and carefully tested. Engineers check the health of every pack, module, and cell inside.

Some batteries might be too weak and need to be fully recycled for their metals. But many still have plenty of life left. Those healthy packs are cleaned up and prepared for second-life projects.

This process ensures only the best batteries go into new roles, which keeps energy systems reliable and cuts the chance of failures.

Recycling is still growing even faster

Giving batteries a second life is big business, but full recycling is growing even faster. That’s because even worn-out batteries are rich in valuable metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Experts think the global battery recycling market will skyrocket to $52 billion by 2045.

This recycling boom means less mining and more reuse of critical materials, which is great news for the planet. As the EV market grows, so does the pile of old batteries that can be stripped down and reborn as brand-new power sources for the next wave of electric vehicles, keeping the cycle strong.

Second-life battery market is no slouch

Though it’s smaller than recycling, the second-life battery market is set to hit $5.2 billion by 2035. That’s still a giant leap from today. Every time a company chooses to reuse a battery instead of pulling it apart, it saves energy and keeps perfectly usable components in action.

This market is expanding quickly as more industries figure out they can use these batteries for things like peak power shaving, emergency backup, or balancing renewable energy. It’s a smart financial move that also helps the planet by cutting waste and keeping batteries out of dumps.

Keeping dangerous waste out of landfills

Imagine thousands of old batteries sitting in a landfill, slowly leaking chemicals into the ground. It’s a nightmare for local water supplies and ecosystems. By repurposing or recycling these batteries, companies prevent toxic substances from seeping into the soil and harming wildlife.

It also stops fires. Old batteries that get damaged in dumps can catch fire or explode. So keeping them in controlled systems isn’t just a clever reuse, it’s a big win for public safety and for protecting the environment we all rely on. This smart approach keeps communities and nature safer.

Why electric beats old gas cars here

When a gasoline car gets too old, it’s mostly headed for the scrapyard. Sure, some metal gets melted down, but that’s about it. EVs are different. Even after their driving days end, the battery often lives on.

It can become part of an energy storage system, a solar backup, or a data center powerhouse. This built-in second chapter gives EVs a real advantage. Instead of being totally finished, these cars keep contributing to our world in new ways. It’s a smart bonus that old gas cars simply can’t match.

From your driveway to a power grid

Think about it: the same battery that once zipped you to work could later help keep a hospital’s lights on. That’s the power of second-life batteries. They’re being used in big systems that smooth out the electricity supply and make renewable energy more practical.

When there’s extra wind or solar power, these old EV batteries soak it up. When energy demand spikes, they send it back out. It’s a seamless way to keep electricity steady and reliable, all thanks to batteries that might otherwise be gathering dust in a junkyard.

Mixing brands, building mega systems

One cool thing about these second-life energy setups is they don’t have to stick to just one brand. Batteries from Teslas, Nissans, or Chevy Bolts can all be combined into the same massive energy storage unit.

By testing and sorting each pack, companies build systems that perform like new, even though they’re made of parts from all over. This mix-and-match strategy keeps costs down and speeds up the rollout of giant battery setups that help balance the grid.

Perfect partners for wind and solar

Renewable energy is awesome, but it doesn’t always show up when you want it. The sun sets, and the wind calms down. Second-life EV batteries step in to solve this. During sunny or windy hours, they store excess energy.

Later, when things quiet down, they release it. This makes green power way more reliable. It means fewer fossil fuel plants have to fire up just because a cloud passed by.

Curious how other EV makers are handling battery moves? Check out what Rivian’s been up to.

More EVs today means brighter future

Americans bought over 1.3 million electric and plug-in hybrid cars last year alone, setting another record. All those vehicles will one day have batteries ready for second acts.

That means more backup power for neighborhoods, more support for data centers, and less stress on local grids. As long as companies keep investing in repurposing and recycling, the future will be full of clever ways to use these old batteries.

Curious which Toyota hybrids are the fastest in RWD? Take a look at this lineup.

Ever wonder what else these batteries could power? Drop your ideas in the comments.

Read more from this brand:

• Dodge Unlocks EV Battery Future
• How BYD Blade Battery Advances EV Performance
• Tesla Scientist Jeff Dahn Reveals 1 Million Mile Battery Breakthrough

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.