The infrastructure to reuse all batteries
Our mission is to replace mining with reuse as the largest source of the next billion batteries.
The problem is that batteries are expensive to reuse today because of non-standardized testing, expensive shipping, and dangerous disassembly by hand.
We collect and sort old batteries, test how good they still are, and take them apart. We do this for all types of EV batteries using ML-driven analytics & intelligent robotics. Then we turn them into modular, directly accessible, and low-cost grid storage systems.
If we can’t do this, we prepare them for recycling to turn them into raw materials to make new cells. Our vision is to build local factories around the world to become the largest manufacturer of used batteries and their raw materials to realize a truly clean energy revolution.
We need 5 billion batteries to electrify the world.
Mining to make batteries is environmentally destructive and expensive.
Reuse provides cheaper, cleaner and longer-lasting batteries. Scaling battery reuse massively must start now.
Reuse
2x Cheaper
$8K vs $16K per pack
5 years
Lifetime extension
10x
Less harm to planet
Mining
2023
Shortage of critical material starts
25 Mton CO2
Emissions due to mining per year
26,000 km2
Rain forest destroyed for nickel per year
63B liters
Freshwater for Lithium extraction per year
Solving the process bottleneck to enable battery reuse.
Damage or end-of-life.
100% of batteries must be recycled by law. This costs up to $3000. 70% of battery volumes are treated with ‘premature recycling’ instead of reusing it.
Damage or end-of-life.
100% of batteries must be recycled by law. This costs up to $3000. 70% of battery volumes are treated with ‘premature recycling’ instead of reusing it.
Discharge, disassembly and diagnosis.
100% by hand and takes > 4 hours.
Regulation prevents outsourcing to cheap labour countries. Shortage of high-volt technicians. 100’s of battery types = hard to automate.
Existing Model
Up To 7 Hours
Universe Energy
<2 Hours
Inspecting
30 Mins
- Recognize battery model, components, & assess damage.
- 100’s pack variations to recognize from incoming stream.
- Deciding on instructions for disassembly.
Machine perception performs battery recognition and health diagnostics.
Discharge, disassembly and diagnosis.
100% by hand and takes > 4 hours.
Regulation prevents outsourcing to cheap labour countries. Shortage of high-volt technicians. 100’s of battery types = hard to automate.
Existing Model
Up To 7 Hours
Universe Energy
<2 Hours
Inspect
Current Model: 30 Mins
- Recognize battery model, components, & assess damage.
- 100’s pack variations to recognize from incoming stream.
- Deciding on instructions for disassembly.
Universe Energy
Machine perception performs battery recognition and health diagnostics.
Discharge
2-4 Hours
- Drain battery modules from residual electricity.
- Electrocution and fire risk.
- Certified engineer required.
Safe & automated discharging for any worker.
Discharge
Current Model: 2-4 Hours
- Drain battery modules from residual electricity.
- Electrocution and fire risk.
- Certified engineer required.
Universe Energy
Safe & automated discharging for any worker.
Disassembly
1-2 Hours
- Extract modules from pack by hand.
- Qualified personnel required.
- 300% variability due to assembly methods.
The robot disassembles battery packs (500kg) into battery modules (25 kg).
Disassemble
Current Model: 1-2 Hours
- Extract modules from pack by hand.
- Qualified personnel required.
- 300% variability due to assembly methods.
Universe Energy
The robot disassembles battery packs (500kg) into battery modules (25 kg).
Diagnose & Sort
30 Mins
- Unreliable data & hard to access BMS to determine state-of-health.
- Decision on repurpose, recycle or repair needs validation.
Data insights recommend to recycle, re-purpose or repair.
Diagnose & Sort
Current Model: 30 Mins
- Unreliable data & hard to access BMS to determine state-of-health.
- Decision on repurpose, recycle or repair needs validation.
Universe Energy
Data insights recommend to recycle, re-purpose or repair.
Reuse
Battery packs are prepared for all forms of reuse. 50% can be reused for grid storage and industrial applications. 20% can be repaired after recalls and in service-life from EV & battery OEMs. 30% can be recycled as raw materials (Co, Ni, Li, Cu, Mn).
Reuse
Battery packs are prepared for all forms of reuse. 50% can be reused for grid storage and industrial applications. 20% can be repaired after recalls and in service-life from EV & battery OEMs. 30% can be recycled as raw materials (Co, Ni, Li, Cu, Mn).
We disassemble EV batteries with robots
Every battery
Machine perception recognizes any battery brand and how to deal with them.
Safe operation
Automated discharging avoids electrocution and fire hazards for workers.
Robotic disassembly
The robot disassembles battery packs (500 kg) into battery modules (25 kg) in 50% of the time.
Battery health
Electrical characterization of batteries to decide on recycling, reusing or repairing.
Technology.
Algorithms
Using machine perception to generate instructions to disassemble any battery.
Robotics
Robotic control for battery handling, disassembly, and discharging procedures.
Tooling
For dismantling & discharging batteries safely.
Battery data
Standardized health data to decide on recycle, repurpose or repair in minutes, not days.
Scaling battery volumes with modular factories
Cognitive robots
Bonobo enables fast diagnosis, safe discharging and quick dismantling.
Disassembly lines
Software connects Bonobo robots and turns them into disassembly lines for all kinds of batteries.
Modular factory
Disassembly lines are scaled into modular factories to ramp up battery volumes.
Backed by deep-tech funds and startup operators.
We’re backed by Silicon Valley deep-tech funds Fifty Years and Innovation Endeavors together with the brightest minds in Machine Learning (Head of Google AI), Robotics (CEO AMP Robotics) and Battery tech (CTO Lightyear). We are guided by startup operators from Cruise, Google X, Deepmind, Palantir and Neuralink.
Wiebe Janssen
Founder | EV & battery systems
Developed the battery packs for Tesla Model X/3 and the 450-mile range EV powertrain for the solar-electric vehicle Lightyear One. He headed product and built engineering teams up to Series A. Awarded Time 100 Best Inventions 2019.
Reverse Mining.
For a truly clean energy transition to manifest, we must replace mining. There’s a way to scale reuse into the largest source of new batteries. Our mission is becoming the largest provider of used batteries and its raw materials to power the 21st century energy infrastructure.
