# How do I count emissions for a storage system built from second-life EV batteries?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/second-life-ev-battery-storage-emissions

Reusing EV batteries avoids making new cells, the biggest part of a battery's footprint. Decide how to split the original manufacturing emissions between first and second life, state the rule, and add testing, repacking and transport. The storage itself only shifts electricity use.

## Common allocation choices

- All manufacturing emissions to the first life, so second life carries only repurposing.
- A split by remaining capacity or years of service.

## What to add

- Testing, sorting and new battery management electronics.
- Transport and enclosure.
- Round-trip losses while operating (Scope 2).

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads bills, fuel invoices and production records into dated, fingerprinted records, so the figure you send a buyer can be traced to its documents.

- [Battery storage and Scope 2](https://senseible.earth/answers/does-battery-storage-reduce-scope-2-emissions)
- [Battery pack per kWh](https://senseible.earth/answers/battery-pack-assembly-carbon-footprint-per-kwh)
- [Lithium-ion recycling](https://senseible.earth/answers/lithium-ion-battery-recycling-emissions-per-tonne)

Sources: [GHG Protocol standards, including the Product Standard](https://ghgprotocol.org/standards), [GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance](https://ghgprotocol.org/scope-2-guidance), [International Energy Agency](https://www.iea.org)

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.