Redwood Materials
Redwood Materials operates an integrated circular battery platform, recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries to recover critical materials (lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper) for sale to North American cell manufacturers, while also deploying second-life battery energy storage systems for AI data centers, automakers, and utilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersCarson City, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Redwood Materials does
Redwood Materials, founded in 2017 by former Tesla co-founder and CTO JB Straubel, operates an integrated circular battery supply chain platform with two interconnected business lines. The first, Redwood Materials (Critical Materials), collects end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and production scrap through a national logistics network spanning 1,000+ VW/Audi dealerships, 700+ BMW Group locations, the LKQ dismantler network, Rotary Club collection points, and consumer direct-ship programs; the company then processes over 20 GWh of batteries annually (the equivalent of ~250,000 EVs, representing roughly 90% of North American lithium-ion recycling) using proprietary hydrometallurgical recycling that recovers more than 95% of critical materials (lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper) at 80% less energy, 70% less CO2, and 80% less water than mining-based processing. Recovered materials are refined into battery-grade anode copper foil and cathode active material sold to North American cell manufacturers including Panasonic (for its Kansas plant), Toyota, and Ultium Cells, with materials production capacity targeted to scale from 100 GWh to 500 GWh annually by 2030.
Redwood Materials firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Redwood Materials
- Legal name
- Redwood Materials Inc.
- Website
- https://redwoodmaterials.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Redwood Materials operates an integrated circular battery platform, recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries to recover critical materials (lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper) for sale to North American cell manufacturers, while also deploying second-life battery energy storage systems for AI data centers, automakers, and utilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Redwood Materials industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Battery Materials & Recycling
- NAICS
- Battery Manufacturing (33591)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Collection, Logistics & Reverse Supply Chain (Transport, Sorting, Tracking) (EUAFACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mechanical Recycling & Materials Separation (Crushing, Sieving, Physical Separation) (EUAFACAC), Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI)
Keywords
Where Redwood Materials is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Carson City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Redwood Materials business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Energy storage equipment sales & long-term service agreements: Direct sale of BESS (DC Block, AC Block) plus long-term service agreements guaranteeing fixed system capacity over the life of the agreement, with capacity maintenance and pack replacement services.
- Power Purchase / Tolling Agreements: Redwood sells energy or power as a service under Power Purchase/Tolling Agreements, assuming operational responsibility and performance risk for the BESS. Provides recurring revenue tied to energy/power delivered.
- Battery materials sales (anode copper foil and cathode active material): Sale of domestically produced, recycled-content battery materials (anode copper foil, cathode active material containing lithium, nickel, cobalt) to North American battery cell manufacturers such as Panasonic, Toyota, and others. Target ramp to 100 GWh annual production by 2025 and 500 GWh by 2030.
- Battery recycling services (B2B): Fee-based recycling services for automakers, battery cell manufacturers, and other organizations; recovery and refining of end-of-life batteries and production scrap into critical battery materials. Partners include VW, Toyota, BMW, Ford, GM, Volvo, Panasonic, Ultium Cells, and Isuzu.
- Auto dealer/dismantler battery portal sales: Auto recyclers and dismantlers can value and sell electric vehicle battery packs with a few clicks through Redwood's portal, creating a transactional recycling channel.
- Consumer recycling program: Free consumer recycling for phones, laptops, tablets, power tools, and lithium-ion devices from individuals and community groups, primarily serving as a feedstock acquisition channel for materials production.
- Microgrid / on-site BESS deployment services: Full turnkey EPC services including DC Block, AC Block, Energy Management System, Commissioning, and Operations and Maintenance for large-scale microgrid installations supporting AI data centers and industrial facilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Equipment sales + long-term service agreement (guaranteeing system capacity) |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Pay-as-you-go | Power Purchase Agreement / Tolling Agreement (sell energy or power as a service) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tariff-free, 100% domestic BESS with lowest-cost positioning |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Redwood Materials product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Redwood Materials operates an integrated circular battery platform. Its Critical Materials business collects end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and production scrap from automakers, cell manufacturers, dealers, dismantlers, and consumers, then uses proprietary mechanical shredding and hydrometallurgical refining to recover more than 95% of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper, which it remanufactures into battery-grade cathode active material and anode copper foil for sale back to North American cell manufacturers. Its Redwood Energy business designs, integrates, and deploys large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) — including DC Block, AC Block, and a GW-scale Energy Management System — built on a proprietary Pack Manager architecture that integrates new and repurposed EV battery packs from any OEM, chemistry, or cell form factor into modular storage for AI data centers, utilities, and industrial customers.
Product overview
Redwood Materials operates an integrated circular battery platform with two interconnected business lines: Redwood Materials (Critical Materials) — battery recycling, refining, and remanufacturing of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper into cathode active material and anode copper foil — and Redwood Energy, the energy storage arm built on top of the materials business that uses the Pack Manager technology to repurpose second-life EV battery packs into large-scale BESS for AI data centers, utilities, and industrial customers. Supporting offerings include the Redwood Battery Bin (smart consumer battery collection), consumer/auto-recycler/dismantler recycling programs, and the South Carolina Carolina Campus critical materials recovery operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Redwood Energy: Subsidiary platform launched in 2025 that designs, integrates, and deploys large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) using new and repurposed EV battery packs for data centers, grid services, peak shaving, backup power, and industrial applications.
- Redwood Battery Bin
Products and services
- Redwood Energy Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) platform that designs, integrates, and deploys large-scale storage (DC Block, AC Block, Energy Management System, Commissioning, full turnkey EPC, and Operations & Maintenance) at the lowest cost using new and repurposed EV battery packs, targeted at AI data centers, grid services, peak shaving, backup power, and industrial customers.
- Redwood Critical Materials (Battery Recycling, Refining & Remanufacturing) End-to-end battery recycling service that recovers more than 95% of critical materials (lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper) from end-of-life batteries, production scrap, and consumer devices for sale as battery-grade cathode active material and anode copper foil to North American cell manufacturers.
- Redwood Battery Bin Smart consumer battery collection system with flame-retardant packing material and fire suppression, designed as a new standard for safer, scalable drop-off of consumer lithium-ion batteries and devices, deployed in partnership with the Nevada Tech Hub and other entities.
- Recycle with Redwood (Consumer & Community Recycling Program) Consumer and community-facing battery recycling program accepting phones, laptops, tablets, power tools, e-bike and scooter batteries, and any other lithium-ion device, offering direct-ship and drop-off pathways in partnership with the Rotary Club, BMW, Toyota, Panasonic, Lyft, and LKQ.
- Auto Recyclers & Dealers Battery Portal Self-service web portal allowing auto recyclers and dismantlers to value and sell EV battery packs directly to Redwood with a few clicks.
- Cathode Active Material Production Battery-grade cathode active material (including high-nickel cathode) produced at Redwood's Northern Nevada campus and supplied to partners such as Panasonic's Kansas plant and Toyota, representing the first commercial-scale cathode production in North America at Gigafactory scale.
- Anode Copper Foil Production Domestic anode copper foil manufactured from recycled copper for use in lithium-ion battery cell production, supplied to Panasonic, Toyota, and other North American partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- Recovers more than 95% of critical materials (lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper) from end-of-life batteries
- +10 more outcomes
Companies that use Redwood Materials
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Redwood Materials technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature7 records
Redwood Materials partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- General Motors (GM)flagshipGM is the first automaker to partner with Redwood across the full battery lifecycle. Partnership covers manufacturing scrap recycling, end-of-life battery recycling, second-life deployment, and critical materials recovery. Includes a 1.5 MW / 7.2 MWh second-life BESS at a Michigan GM plant using ~100 repurposed GM EV battery packs (expected to save $3M+ in electricity costs), and energy storage pursuits using U.S.-built batteries.
- Berkeley County, South CarolinaminorGovernment partnership for collection of damaged, defective, or recalled lithium-ion batteries. All collected batteries are sent to Redwood Materials for recycling. The county's Solid Waste Department coordinates drop-offs at the Oakley Road Convenience Center.
- RivianflagshipPartnership to deploy a 10 MWh second-life battery energy storage system at Rivian's Normal, Illinois manufacturing plant using over 100 repurposed Rivian battery packs. The largest repurposed BESS at any U.S. automaker's facility. Redwood's Pack Manager software integrates mixed-chemistry packs into a unified dispatchable asset.
- CaterpillarcoreCollaboration to recover the critical minerals that power mining's electrification. Caterpillar Venture Capital participated in the Series D funding round.
- CrusoeflagshipCrusoe is Redwood's first energy storage customer and the anchor for Redwood Energy. The 12 MW / 63 MWh second-life battery microgrid at Sparks, NV powers Crusoe's modular Spark data centers, expanded from 4 to 24 units (March 2026) with 99.2% operational availability since June 2025. The partnership is positioned as a scalable model for AI data center power.
- Lime MicromobilityminorPartnership to recycle medium-format batteries (300Wh–1,000Wh) from e-bikes and e-scooters. Lime is the world's largest micromobility company. Other micromobility partners include Lyft, Rad Power Bikes, and Specialized.
- IsuzuminorBattery recycling partnership announced as part of Redwood's 2025 activities.
- Nevada Tech HubminorState-level partnership to deploy smart battery recycling bins (Redwood Battery Bin) across Nevada for consumer electronics collection.
- BMW of North AmericaflagshipPartnership to recycle lithium-ion batteries from all electrified BMW Group vehicles (BMW, MINI, Rolls Royce, BMW Motorrad) via 700+ dealer, distribution, and internal locations. Located near BMW's Plant Spartanburg and Plant Woodruff in South Carolina, where BMW will assemble at least six fully electric models.
- Ultium Cells (GM + LG Energy Solution JV)flagshipRedwood recycles production scrap (cathode, anode, cell scrap) from Ultium's Warren, Ohio and Spring Hill, Tennessee Gigafactories (each 2.8M sq ft, expecting 80+ GWh combined annually). With a third facility under construction in Michigan, Redwood now has contracts with most of North America's battery cell manufacturers.
- REDUX Recycling GmbHcoreRedwood expanded into Europe in September 2023 through the acquisition of REDUX Recycling, a leading EU battery recycling firm based in Germany. Acquisition supports Redwood's plan to build out similar hydromet recycling and copper foil / cathode active material production sites in Europe.
- PanasonicflagshipLong-term partnership since 2019. Panasonic recycles production scrap from the Nevada Gigafactory with Redwood. Panasonic is the first long-term buyer of Redwood's anode copper foil and will source Redwood's high-nickel cathode for its new Kansas plant (first cathode at Gigafactory scale in North America, targeted 2025).
- Rotary Club (ESRAG)coreNational collaboration to create consumer recycling pathways for lithium-ion batteries and devices. Joint community events with Rotary Clubs of Los Altos, Cupertino, San Jose and across the country. Leverages Rotary's 1.4M+ members and 46,000+ clubs.
- Volkswagen Group of AmericaflagshipPartnership to recycle all end-of-life batteries from Volkswagen and Audi EVs. Redwood works with VWGoA's network of 1,000+ dealers to recover, package, transport, and recycle battery packs. Materials recovered at Redwood's Northern Nevada facilities and remanufactured into anode and cathode components supplied back to US battery cell manufacturers.
- Toyota Motor North AmericaflagshipCollaboration on EV battery collection, remanufacturing, recycling, and battery materials supply. Toyota sources cathode active material and anode copper foil from Redwood. Work focused at Redwood's Northern Nevada Battery Materials Campus with planned expansion near Toyota's North American battery plant on the East Coast.
- VolvocoreVolvo is a Redwood partner for battery recycling and closed-loop battery materials supply. Featured on Redwood's homepage as one of nine key partners powering America's resilient energy future.
- Southern CompanycoreEnergy storage partnership for grid applications, listed as one of Redwood's key partners on the homepage.
- LKQcoreChannel partner in Redwood's dismantler network. Auto recyclers and dismantlers can value and sell EV battery packs through Redwood's portal with a few clicks.
- Ford Motor CompanycoreStrategic relationship covering battery recycling, materials supply, and pursuit of U.S.-built batteries for energy storage. Announced in September 2021.
- AmazoncoreAmazon recycles EV and other lithium-ion batteries and e-waste from parts of its business with Redwood. Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund participated in the Series C funding round.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Redwood Materials competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Li-Cycle: Li-Cycle is a North American lithium-ion battery recycler using a wet-chemistry spoke-and-hub process to produce black mass and refined battery materials. Like Redwood, it targets end-of-life EV and consumer batteries to recover lithium, nickel, and cobalt, though it is currently restructuring and operates at materially smaller scale.
- Ascend Elements: Ascend Elements is a US-based battery materials company that recycles lithium-ion batteries and manufactures cathode active material. It directly competes with Redwood on closed-loop materials supply to North American cell manufacturers, including its Hydro-to-Cathode direct precursor synthesis process.
- Cirba Solutions: Cirba Solutions (formerly Battery Resourcers) operates battery collection, recycling, and materials production across North America, producing recycled cathode active material and lithium carbonate. It is one of Redwood's closest competitors in the domestic battery materials supply chain.
Broad incumbents
- Umicore: Umicore is a Belgian global materials and recycling group with one of the largest battery materials and recycling businesses in the world. It competes with Redwood in cathode active materials, refining, and recycling, though its footprint is global and its portfolio spans non-battery catalysts and recycling.
- Tesla Energy: Tesla's energy unit (Megapack, Powerwall) is the leading global BESS OEM, deploying utility-scale and commercial battery storage at scale. It is a key competitor in the data center and utility-scale storage market where Redwood Energy is positioning, though Tesla uses new LFP cells rather than second-life EV packs.
- Fluence Energy: Fluence Energy is a leading global provider of grid-scale battery energy storage systems and software, formed as a joint venture between Siemens and AES. It competes with Redwood Energy in the utility-scale and AI data center storage market with a broad portfolio of BESS products.
- Glencore: Glencore is one of the world's largest commodity traders and recyclers of metals including cobalt, nickel, and copper. While it does not compete directly in EV battery recycling at scale, its refining and materials supply business sets a competitive benchmark for Redwood's domestic cathode active material and copper foil offerings.
Emerging players
- Northvolt: Northvolt is a Swedish battery cell manufacturer that also operates battery recycling (Revolt) and is building a European gigafactory footprint. It is a strategically adjacent player to Redwood in Europe — both targeting closed-loop battery materials — though Northvolt is focused on cell manufacturing and has faced significant operational and financial difficulties.
- Princeton NuEnergy: Princeton NuEnergy (PNE) is a US-based battery recycler using low-temperature plasma processing to recover cathode and anode materials from end-of-life batteries. It targets similar OEM and cell manufacturer customers as Redwood, though at materially smaller scale and earlier stage.
- Form Energy: Form Energy is a US long-duration energy storage company developing iron-air battery technology for 100+ hour grid storage. It is an adjacent, not directly competing player to Redwood Energy in the broader stationary storage market, addressing multi-day discharge applications where lithium-ion BESS is less economic.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Redwood Materials social profiles
Digital presenceRedwood Materials compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Redwood Materials financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Redwood Materials leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Redwood Materials subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Redwood Materials funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors29 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Redwood Materials M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Redwood Materials
What does Redwood Materials do?
Redwood Materials operates an integrated circular battery platform. Its Critical Materials business collects end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and production scrap from automakers, cell manufacturers, dealers, dismantlers, and consumers, then uses proprietary mechanical shredding and hydrometallurgical refining to recover more than 95% of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper, which it remanufactures into battery-grade cathode active material and anode copper foil for sale back to North American cell manufacturers. Its Redwood Energy business designs, integrates, and deploys large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) — including DC Block, AC Block, and a GW-scale Energy Management System — built on a proprietary Pack Manager architecture that integrates new and repurposed EV battery packs from any OEM, chemistry, or cell form factor into modular storage for AI data centers, utilities, and industrial customers.
Is Redwood Materials a public or private company?
Redwood Materials is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Redwood Materials founded?
Redwood Materials was founded in 2017. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Redwood Materials based?
Redwood Materials is headquartered in Carson City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Redwood Materials make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Energy storage equipment sales & long-term service agreements are the primary driver. The others are power Purchase / Tolling Agreements, battery materials sales (anode copper foil and cathode active material), battery recycling services (B2B), auto dealer/dismantler battery portal sales, consumer recycling program and microgrid / on-site BESS deployment services.
Who are Redwood Materials's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Li-Cycle, Ascend Elements and Cirba Solutions. Broad incumbents are Umicore, Tesla Energy, Fluence Energy and Glencore. Emerging players are Northvolt, Princeton NuEnergy and Form Energy.
Does Redwood Materials have an API?
No public API is recorded for Redwood Materials.
What industry is Redwood Materials in?
Redwood Materials's product category is Battery Materials & Recycling. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFACAA, Collection, Logistics & Reverse Supply Chain (Transport, Sorting, Tracking), with a secondary code of EUAFACAC, Mechanical Recycling & Materials Separation (Crushing, Sieving, Physical Separation). Its NAICS code is 33591 and its SIC code is 3600.