The Market Accelerator Program for Second-life Use (MAPS) of Electric School Bus Batteries
Retired electric school bus batteries can still have value in various clean energy storage applications. Start here to get involved in co-designing pilot projects for their second-life use.
In February 2026, the Electric School Bus Initiative launched the Market Accelerator Program for Second-life Use (MAPS) to maximize the potential of used electric school bus batteries as affordable, sustainable energy storage for schools, communities and the electric grid.
Our work will focus on codesigning pilots to enable market readiness for second-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries by building awareness, engaging partners across the value chain, and exploring technical, commercial and regulatory viability. These pilot designs could explore three core pathways:
- Supply-side readiness: Defining standardized processes for evaluating, disassembling and repurposing batteries for second-life applications using early ESB cohorts.
- Market-building partnerships: Developing models that connect original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), fleet operators, second-life use companies, integrators, and electric utilities.
- Utility-integrated storage: Designing storage strategies that allow second-life ESB batteries to provide reliable, low-cost storage for schools, communities and local grids.
Through these pilot designs, we aim to create a pathway with ecosystem partners that helps reduce costs, de-risks investment, strengthens domestic supply chains, and expands access to clean energy storage, all while extending the life and value of EV batteries.
Join the Program
We are seeking partners across the ecosystem — school districts, fleet operators, OEMs, battery repurposers, utilities, integrators and policymakers — to help shape and participate in these pilot designs.
If you're interested in codesigning or hosting a pilot, please complete our short interest form here: Electric School Bus Battery Second-Life Use Pilot Design.