Batteries Reborn: GM and Redwood Power a Greener Grid

GM and Redwood repurpose retired EV batteries into grid storage to bolster U.S. clean energy and supply resilience

11 Nov 2025

General Motors and Redwood Materials are teaming up to change how America thinks about electric vehicle batteries. Their new partnership aims to give old EV cells a second career, as large-scale energy storage for the nation’s power grid.

Under a non-binding agreement, GM will supply both new and used batteries, while Redwood will recycle and rebuild them for stationary use. These reworked systems can store wind and solar energy, stabilize the grid, and provide backup electricity when demand spikes. What might have been discarded will now help power homes and businesses.

The timing is strategic. Battery demand is climbing fast, while supply chains remain shaky amid material shortages and global tensions. By investing in domestic reuse and recycling, GM and Redwood are not only cutting waste but also keeping valuable materials within the U.S. Analysts estimate that repurposed batteries hold roughly three-quarters of their original capacity, enough to make them a cost-effective option for storage.

“This collaboration marks a turning point for American manufacturing,” said energy analyst Laura Kent. “It’s about making every battery count and keeping that value close to home.”

The effort aligns with federal incentives, including tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act for domestic battery production and recycling. GM and Redwood plan to showcase one of the largest second-life projects yet: a 12 MW/63 MWh microgrid that will test how scalable battery reuse can be.

Challenges remain, from safety protocols to collecting retired batteries at scale, but momentum is clear. More details are expected later in 2025.

For now, the message is simple: in this new energy era, old batteries are not dying; they are just getting started.