In the US, Canada, and Australia, old EV batteries could store solar — if cheap new cells don't win

What happened to the "wave of unwanted EV batteries" that EV naysayers claimed would plague the world?

Here's what to know

A new video from Just Have a Think examines that question and shows just how valuable and profitable a used EV battery may be for companies ready to retrofit those used batteries. However, the demand for these batteries is competitive, especially with new technology demanding so much energy and storage options.

What should happen after EV batteries leave vehicles? Many expected them to go straight to recycling, but in reality, they first store renewable energy and boost grid reliability. Some even have three lifecycles before being recycled.

Innovative companies are squeezing every bit of life out of these used batteries.

Just Have a Think, citing the International Energy Agency, said that in the first half of 2026, more than 90 countries recorded year-over-year growth in EV sales.

The channel's latest explainer argues that EV batteries will be the next step.

The creator said, "Eventually every single one of them will reach a point where they're no longer considered good enough to power a car. I mean, that will be a long time after the car they were originally installed in has ceased to be a functional object, of course."

In August, sales of fully battery electric cars in Europe rose roughly 50% from a year earlier, including a 75% increase in Germany, while France more than doubled.

Australia also saw battery electric sales rise by about 170%, reaching nearly a quarter of the new-car market and surpassing conventional petrol cars for the first time. Markets outside China, Europe, and North America saw battery electric and plug-in hybrid sales climb 97%.

More background

Longer-lasting EV batteries first benefit drivers, then grid providers and commercial buildings; next, they can serve as portable backup power; finally, they go to recycling.

Packs that last longer can extend a vehicle's useful life and delay one of the biggest potential replacement costs of owning an EV.

As brand-new batteries keep getting cheaper, some buyers may decide it's easier to buy fresh cells than repurpose used vehicle packs. The creator argues that this is likely when a commercial buyer steps in and purchases a used EV battery for an energy storage project.

Commenters on the video pointed to reasons why second-life storage is appealing. One wrote, "Makes perfect sense to use decommissioned EV batteries for stationary storage."

Another commenter argued that a battery no longer ideal for driving may still have plenty left for stationary use, writing that "70% capacity might be more than enough for stationary storage to operate for another decade or so."

What's being done?

Projects in the United States, Canada, and Australia show the choice is more complicated than simply reusing or recycling, since battery chemistry and fast-falling prices for new packs can shift which option makes the most sense.

Those favoring recycling described it as part of building a more circular battery supply chain and pointed to JB Straubel, former Tesla executive and CEO of Redwood Materials, as an advocate for battery recycling at a much larger scale.

Old EV batteries could help businesses and communities store renewable energy, cut peak electricity costs, and add resilience when the grid goes down.

Expanded grid backup can save money, reduce wasted renewable power, and keep critical services running during outages or extreme weather.

Still, falling new-battery prices may become the deciding factor.

As one commenter put it, "With batteries getting cheaper and cheaper, in the end recycling could be the best economic decision, no matter the chemistry... But we are not there yet."

The creator behind Just Have a Think said, "Battery technology has advanced so rapidly that the economics of what to do with an old EV battery are changing almost as quickly as the batteries themselves."

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