Putting Retired EV Batteries Back to Work

Moment Energy, founded in a Vancouver garage, turns retired electric‑vehicle packs into stationary storage that can run another ten to twenty years. By testing each module, re‑configuring them like Lego blocks, and sealing the assemblies in UL‑certified containers, the company guarantees fire‑free operation in hospitals, airports and manufacturing plants. The modular design also cuts installation time and lowers carbon footprints. The safety focus attracted Amazon as its largest investor and positions Moment as the only provider cleared to install batteries inside built‑environment assets across North America.

Financially, repurposing beats recycling hands down. Moment sells power at $200‑$1,000 per kilowatt‑hour, while traditional recyclers scrape a modest $12 per kilowatt‑hour and lose $20 per kilowatt‑hour on shipping. That margin gap lets the firm secure a $20 million DOE grant and a $26 million Texas gigafactory, aiming to process two gigawatt‑hours annually. With an estimated 950 GWh of end‑of‑life batteries—roughly 12 million EVs—arriving over the next two years, domestic capacity is essential for critical‑mineral security and to keep thousands of tons out of landfills. This scale‑up supports job creation in Austin and across Canada.

The timing aligns with exploding AI and data‑center demand, where utilities struggle to keep rates affordable. Moment’s batteries can charge overnight at low‑cost electricity and discharge during peak hours, effectively decoupling high‑energy loads from the grid. By keeping the supply chain onshore, the company also reduces reliance on Chinese lithium and cobalt, a strategic priority under both current and prior U.S. administrations. As competitors like Redwood Materials and BTU Energy scale up, Moment’s safety‑first, UL‑certified approach gives it a defensible niche in the rapidly growing second‑life market. Such flexibility makes the solution attractive for municipal microgrids.