The used-battery gold rush is coming

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on The Atlantic or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: As electric vehicle batteries lose capacity, they may be gaining a valuable second life as energy storage systems
• Batteries retaining around 70–80% of their original capacity are often no longer suitable for powering cars, but can still store enough electricity for homes, businesses and potentially data centres

🔭 The context: Across Europe, used EV batteries have been repurposed for years to store energy for buildings, businesses and factories
• In the US, an ageing electric vehicle fleet could soon create a much larger supply of batteries for similar applications.
• The trend is also gaining traction among DIY enthusiasts, including UK-based YouTuber Andrew Austin, who connected an old Nissan battery to his parents' solar array
• The system supplied their household energy needs and allowed them to sell surplus electricity back to the grid
• Experts nevertheless caution against attempting informal installations without appropriate technical and engineering support.

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Repurposing EV batteries could extend their useful life, reduce demand for new energy storage materials and help integrate renewable electricity by storing surplus solar power
• It also offers a potential way to address battery waste as electric vehicle adoption grows, although safe reuse and eventual recycling remain important

⏭️ What’s next: As more EV batteries reach the end of their automotive life in the US, businesses and energy providers could expand second-life storage projects
• The opportunity would depend on reliable testing, safety standards, engineering expertise and viable economics for deploying used batteries at scale

💬 One quote: “I’m not necessarily saying that everybody should hijack their parents’ house and stick an EV battery on the side.” — Andrew Austin, battery reuse enthusiast known as Battery Man

📈 One stat: 70–80% — the approximate remaining capacity at which EV batteries may no longer be practical for vehicles, while retaining potential for stationary energy storage

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