Energy Storage Technology Company Volt Harbor Raises $2 Million In Funding

Michigan-based startup Volt Harbor has secured $2 million in seed funding to advance its innovative energy storage technology that repurposes used electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The company has developed a modular, software-defined platform designed to provide efficient and cost-effective energy storage solutions for data centres and the electrical grid. By utilising second-life EV batteries, which retain significant capacity after their automotive use, Volt Harbor aims to address the growing supply of retired batteries as EV adoption accelerates globally. Volt Harbor’s technology distinguishes itself through a patented Media Access Control (MAC) approach that optimises power conversion efficiency and reduces hardware costs. Unlike conventional battery energy storage systems that process all power through costly and inefficient converters, Volt Harbor’s system strategically employs fewer converters arranged in two layers to manage power flow. This architecture achieves an impressive 94% energy utilisation rate, significantly outperforming traditional methods, while also generating alternating current directly from the batteries to eliminate additional conversion losses. The company is currently piloting a 100 kW / 300 kWh system in partnership with DTE Energy, aimed at managing high-power EV charging demands and demonstrating multi-use capabilities such as demand response and peak shaving. The platform is designed for modular scalability, suitable for applications ranging from commercial deployments to large-scale utility systems. Volt Harbor highlights several key benefits including reduced total system costs, extended battery life by up to 30%, and compatibility with a wide variety of battery chemistries and manufacturers, which simplifies integration of diverse second-life battery supplies. Dr Al-Thaddeus Avestruz, Volt Harbor’s CEO and co-founder, emphasises the system’s reliability and rapid response time, noting its suitability for critical infrastructure like data centres. The distributed architecture ensures no single point of failure, with hot-swappable components that maintain uninterrupted operation. As the volume and variety of retired EV batteries increase in the coming years, Volt Harbor’s flexible and cost-efficient solution positions it well to contribute to sustainable energy storage and grid resilience.