Rivian and Redwood Deploy 10 MWh Second-Life EV Battery System

The new system will power Rivian's Illinois factory and support grid stability.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:06pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly detailed 3D illustration of a glowing, neon-lit battery energy storage system, with illuminated battery cells, power inverters, and control modules, conceptually representing the repurposing of retired electric vehicle batteries to power an industrial facility.Rivian's second-life EV battery system harnesses retired electric vehicle components to provide flexible, grid-supporting energy storage for the company's Illinois factory.Normal Today

Rivian, an electric vehicle maker, and battery recycling company Redwood Materials have partnered to deploy a 10 megawatt-hour second-life battery energy storage system at Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois. The system will use more than 100 repurposed electric vehicle battery packs to cut energy costs and support grid stability during peak demand.

Why it matters

As electricity demand in the U.S. rises faster than grid expansion, large-scale storage systems are increasingly seen as a way to balance demand without waiting years for new transmission infrastructure. The Rivian-Redwood partnership demonstrates how second-life EV batteries can be turned into a distributed energy resource to support critical manufacturing and reduce strain on the grid.

The details

The system will take used Rivian EV battery packs and convert them into a stationary energy storage unit on-site at the factory. Redwood Materials will integrate the packs into its Redwood Energy system, using its Pack Manager technology to control and dispatch stored electricity when needed. The initial deployment will provide 10 MWh of dispatchable energy, and the model is designed to be scalable as more second-life battery packs become available.

  • The system will be deployed at Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois.
  • The initial deployment will provide 10 MWh of dispatchable energy.

The players

Rivian

An electric vehicle maker.

Redwood Materials

A battery recycling and materials company that will integrate the second-life battery packs into its Redwood Energy system.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“EVs represent a massive, distributed and highly competitive energy resource. As energy needs grow, our grid needs to be flexible, secure, and affordable. Our partnership with Redwood enables us to utilize our vehicle's batteries beyond the life of a vehicle and contribute to grid health and American competitiveness.”

— RJ Scaringe, Rivian Founder and CEO

“Electricity demand is accelerating faster than the grid can expand, posing a constraint on industrial growth. At the same time, the massive amount of domestic battery assets already in the U.S. market represents a strategic energy resource. Our partnership with Rivian shows how EV battery packs can be turned into dispatchable energy resources, bringing new capacity online quickly, supporting critical manufacturing, and reducing strain on the grid without waiting years for new infrastructure. This is a scalable model for how we add meaningful energy capacity in the near term.”

— JB Straubel, Redwood Materials Founder and CEO

What’s next

The companies say the model is designed to be scalable and can be expanded as more second-life battery packs become available.

The takeaway

This partnership between Rivian and Redwood Materials showcases how second-life EV batteries can be repurposed to provide large-scale energy storage, supporting critical manufacturing operations and the local grid without waiting years for new infrastructure. As electricity demand continues to outpace grid expansion, this scalable model represents a promising solution for adding near-term energy capacity.