Second charge: Unlocking EV battery value as energy storage

As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates and battery retirement volumes rise, the Global South risks losing out on a significant value creation opportunity: retired EV batteries retain up to 80% of original capacity, yet second-life pathways remain overlooked, leaving value uncaptured before end-of-life disposal. Repurposed into microgrids, EV charging stations, and energy storage, these batteries can deliver years of additional productive life while extending the value of critical minerals and supporting power access in energy-insecure markets.

These opportunities are limited by upstream battery design, technical and financing challenges, and lack of supportive policies. Batteries designed for first-life performance without consideration for secondary use creates bottlenecks that prevent downstream business models from scaling. Across emerging markets, second-life batteries are entering use through informal channels, without the safety infrastructure or environmental frameworks that lasting circularity requires.

This session convenes policymakers and industry actors with experience in second-life battery deployment to highlight Global South practitioner case studies, identify barriers to scaling second-life business models, and produce actionable industry recommendations.

This event is an accelerator session at the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 (wcef2026.com). On social media, you can follow the event with #WCEF2026.

Second charge: Unlocking EV battery value as energy storage

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