Rivian and Redwood Materials Expand Partnership Across the Battery Lifecycle

Rivian and Redwood Materials announced a major expansion of their partnership, establishing Redwood as one of Rivian’s key partners for end-to-end energy solutions. The expanded agreement covers recycling battery manufacturing scrap and end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) battery packs, as well as providing stationary battery storage at Rivian’s manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois. Rivian released the news on October 14, 2026.

Through the partnership, Redwood collects Rivian EV battery packs through the automaker’s nationwide network of service centers when the batteries are no longer suitable for use in vehicles. Redwood evaluates each battery pack to determine whether it can be repurposed for energy storage, either at Rivian’s manufacturing facilities or other locations, or whether it should be recycled. The expanded agreement also includes recycling battery scrap generated during Rivian’s manufacturing operations.

The new scope builds on an existing partnership announced in April 2026, which includes deploying 10 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage using repurposed Rivian battery packs at the automaker’s manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois.

“Giving Rivian battery packs a second life in stationary storage is a massive unlock for the energy transition,” said RJ Scaringe, Rivian Founder and CEO. “By partnering with JB and the Redwood team, we’re turning retired EV batteries into a powerful tool to make the grid more reliable and lower energy costs for everyone.”

“Every Rivian battery pack that comes back to us is a potential source of domestic grid energy storage in addition to critical materials,” said JB Straubel, Redwood Materials Founder and CEO. “Redwood’s unique ability to integrate and redeploy Rivian batteries with our technology is an opportunity to enable fast, flexible and more cost-efficient energy storage. As the demand and cost for energy keeps rising, working with companies like Rivian is how we help meet these challenges.”

When EV batteries reach the end of their useful lives in vehicles, they often retain substantial energy capacity for second-life applications, including stationary energy storage. Repurposed batteries can help ease pressure on the electrical grid during periods of high electricity demand, improving grid reliability while reducing energy costs for both individual users and the broader grid.

During periods of low electricity demand or when renewable energy is readily available at low cost, these battery systems can store electricity for later use when demand increases. When paired with Rivian and other EV battery packs, Redwood’s proprietary technology architecture provides an integrated system capable of responding intelligently to the energy needs of the facility it serves.

Once batteries are no longer suitable for energy storage, or when battery scrap is generated during manufacturing, the materials can be recycled. Redwood’s advanced recycling process can recover critical minerals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper, at rates exceeding 95%. This recovery process supports the development of a circular domestic supply chain for battery materials in the United States.

The expanded partnership reflects a broader shift in how American manufacturers approach energy sourcing and infrastructure. Grid connections can take years to secure, while conventional energy infrastructure remains constrained by supply limitations. As a result, manufacturers increasingly need partners capable of addressing multiple challenges, including material recovery, recycling, and energy storage, through integrated solutions rather than relying on separate providers.

Rivian’s expanded partnership with Redwood demonstrates an approach that spans the full battery lifecycle, from manufacturing scrap and vehicle battery retirement to second-life energy storage and eventual recycling. By combining these services, the companies aim to deploy energy storage more quickly, recover valuable materials, and address manufacturing energy requirements beyond what the electrical grid alone can provide.

About Rivian

Rivian is an American automotive technology company that develops and manufactures category-defining electric vehicles, along with vertically integrated technologies and services. Through innovation in electrical architecture, end-to-end software, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, and propulsion, the company creates vehicles designed for work and recreation while accelerating the global transition to zero-emission transportation and energy.

Rivian vehicles are manufactured in the United States and sold directly to consumer and commercial customers. Whether helping families embark on new adventures or electrifying fleets at scale, Rivian vehicles share a common goal of preserving the natural world for generations to come.

Learn more about the company, products, and careers at www.rivian.com.

About Redwood Materials

Redwood Materials is building the U.S. stockpile of critical materials and deploying large-scale energy storage. Founded by JB Straubel, the company produces lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and cathode active material at scale in the United States, manufactures key components for advanced batteries, and deploys energy storage systems that power data centers and the nation’s electrical grid.

Redwood is expanding domestic capacity for next-generation energy storage while strengthening U.S. energy independence.

Learn more at www.redwoodmaterials.com.

EVinfo.net’s Take: Kudos Rivian and Redwood

While Tesla gives us a flashy flying car promoting another super-expensive luxury Roadster and removing the word “Sustainability” from its mission statement on the Tesla website, Rivian and Redwood clearly care about people and the planet by expanding the circular battery economy. Bravo! This is how it’s done. keep going stellar Rivian/Redwood teams!

In the video below, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe shares his thoughts on climate optimism and outlines a future where the planet, our only home, continues to be a source of exploration, growth, and joy for generations to come.

I got into EVs at first as a lifelong environmentalist, since study after study prove EVs are the most eco friendly vehicles.

However, the fact that EVs are also the most cost effective vehicle made it possible for me to make the leap to electric much sooner that it would have been otherwise.