AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from MIT Technology Review, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

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Demand for energy storage is surging, with capacity expected to grow eightfold in the next decade. To meet this need, Moment Energy aims to shorten supply chains by repurposing old electric vehicle (EV) batteries into new grid-connected systems instead of relying on manufacturing largely based in China. The company’s four founders met while studying mechatronics engineering and later worked at companies like Tesla and Apple before reuniting after tornadoes caused major power outages in Ottawa in 2018.

Moment Energy currently sources used battery packs from around 20 car manufacturers, including Nissan and Mercedes-Benz. After screening each cell for health using proprietary AI models, the company repackages healthy units into 20- or 40-foot steel containers designed to extend a battery’s useful life for another 10–30 years. This process reduces global warming potential and resource use compared to recycling, according to a 2023 analysis. The firm claims to be the only "second life" battery company certified by UL, an independent safety evaluator used by financiers and insurers.

Moment has deployed 11 systems since its founding for off-grid homes and grid-connected facilities like hospitals and airports. Its Megafactory 1 in Vancouver recently opened, capable of repurposing one gigawatt-hour of capacity per year by 2030. The facility cost under $90 per kilowatt-hour, which is lower than the average market cost of $70 per kilowatt-hour reached in early 2026, though new batteries may still undercut it when accounting for tariffs and shipping. The company continues to build a larger hub in Texas with funding from the US Department of Energy and investors including Amazon and Liberty Mutual.