Canadian energy storage company Moment Energy has announced a partnership with Copec to repurpose batteries from Chile’s electric bus fleet into stationary energy storage systems.
The fleet is one of the largest outside of China, giving the partnership access to a significant volume of retired EV batteries as the first wave of buses reaches mid-life replacement cycles.
45MWh of early deployments planned
The companies expect to deliver around 45MWh of storage capacity across near-term projects, with system sizes ranging from small commercial installations to multi-megawatt utility-scale sites. The repurposed batteries will be used to provide peak shaving, backup power, and renewable energy support.
By extending battery life after they are removed from bus service, the model offers both economic and environmental benefits:
Reduces cost vs. new lithium-ion systems
Diverts usable cells from early recycling
Lowers emissions per MWh delivered over the battery’s lifetime
Chile’s fleet offers a major supply source
Chile has rapidly expanded electric public transport across Santiago and other cities, making it the second-largest electric bus fleet in the world. With early vehicles now nearing refurbishment points, the country is becoming a strategic hub for second-life battery reuse.
Grid support and renewable integration
Grid operators and utilities in Chile face growing demand from solar and wind capacity. Repurposed battery systems are expected to help:
Store excess generation
Smooth grid fluctuations
Reduce the need for diesel backup systems in remote areas
Circular economy strategy
Energy analysts see the project as a blueprint for Latin America’s emerging circular battery economy. Instead of immediate recycling, second-life systems can deliver years of additional use before final material recovery.
The partnership will also generate operational data to help evaluate performance, safety, and end-of-life planning for large-format second-life battery systems.
