GM and Redwood Materials to pursue use of US-built batteries for energy storage

General Motors has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Redwood Materials to accelerate deployment of energy storage systems using new US-manufactured batteries from GM and second-life battery packs from GM electric vehicles.

The collaboration is a step toward taking GM’s battery technology beyond EVs and builds on the two companies’ existing collaboration.

In June, Redwood Materials launched Redwood Energy, a new business that deploys used EV packs and new modules into fast, low-cost energy storage systems built to meet surging power demand from AI data centers and other applications. The memorandum enables Redwood to pair that integration expertise with second-life GM EV packs and new US-built batteries, delivering a domestic solution from cell to system.

GM second-life EV batteries are already being repurposed to help power the largest second-life battery development in the world and the largest microgrid in North America, at Redwood’s 12 MW (63 MWh) installation in Sparks, Nevada, supporting the AI infrastructure company Crusoe.

“Electricity demand is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, driven by AI and the rapid electrification of everything from transportation to industry,” said JB Straubel, founder and CEO of Redwood Materials. “Both GM’s second-life EV batteries and new batteries can be deployed in Redwood’s energy storage systems, delivering fast, flexible power solutions.”

Source: General Motors