Australia’s old EV batteries find new power

Relectrify’s repurposed EV units offer cheap, modular storage and ease pressure on the grid

22 Mar 2025

A small firm in Melbourne may have found an answer to two problems at once: the growing pile of retired electric-vehicle batteries and the urgent need for affordable energy storage. In March, Relectrify, an Australian battery developer, released final results of a multi-year trial for its ReVolve system. Backed by a A$1.49m grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the project repurposes used Nissan Leaf batteries into modular 120kWh units that deliver alternating current directly, removing the need for an inverter.

That detail matters. Conventional storage units require separate inverters to convert direct to alternating current. By doing without, ReVolve cuts costs and installation time. Its core is Relectrify’s CellSwitch software, which monitors and controls individual battery cells to deliver a safe, balanced output. The result is a plug-and-play system that fits standard enclosures and has achieved over 98% uptime during three years of testing.

Second-life batteries are not new. But few have reached commercial readiness. ARENA’s final report calls ReVolve a "low-cost and highly deployable" option that meets market needs for resilience and flexibility. Early adopters in Victoria saw the units help manage summer peaks and reduce grid demand charges, proof that reuse can support renewables, not just delay disposal.

Australia’s shift to clean energy depends increasingly on such innovations. As more rooftop solar comes online, especially in residential areas, storage will be needed to smooth supply and avoid expensive upgrades. The second-life battery market is forecast to reach US$4.2bn by 2035, helped by circular economy mandates and improved battery management.

Other firms are taking notice. Nissan Australia is testing its own reuse model, pairing old EV packs with solar arrays. But technical barriers remain, especially in standardising battery formats and extending cycle life.

Even so, with Australia’s EV fleet growing fast, the shift from first-life to second-life storage is gaining momentum. Relectrify’s example suggests the country can recycle not just materials, but value, and in doing so, build a cheaper, cleaner, and more flexible energy system.