The math for a used electric car battery, once its driving range has faded, is not complicated. It still holds perhaps 70% of its original capacity. In Stockholm, Rebaba is building that answer into shipping containers, and selling them to businesses that would rather not pay peak electricity prices.
Founded in 2023, Rebaba is a classic example of Nordic industrial pragmatism. The proposition is straightforward: source battery packs from end-of-life EVs, test and reconfigure them into modular storage units, and sell these systems to commercial and industrial customers. The company’s first visible commercial move is a partnership with Swedish energy wholesaler KP Energy, which is now offering Rebaba’s containerized systems [nordiskaprojekt.se, 2026].
A wedge of cost and carbon
For a commercial operator, the appeal of second-life storage hinges on the capital cost per kilowatt-hour of capacity and the avoided cost of grid electricity during peak times. Rebaba’s bet is that by owning the technical process of assessment, repackaging, and system integration, they can deliver reliable storage at a price point that makes sense for a mid-sized business.
The team from Northvolt and the ecosystem push
The founders, Paula Runsten and Felix Kruse, bring industrial pedigree. Runsten, the CEO, has a background at Tesla and Northvolt [di.se]. Kruse, the CTO and COO, also has experience from Northvolt and an engineering education from Lund University [linkedin.com, 2026].
Rebaba is part of a Vinnova-funded project called 'Industrial Scaling of a Circular Battery Value Chain,' which includes partners like Stena Recycling, OKQ8 Group, Smartports, and the research institute RISE [miningmetalnews.com, 2025]. In October 2025, they signed a strategic collaboration with Smartports to scale circular battery-powered solar carports across Europe [news.cision.com, 2025].
| Partner | Role |
|---|---|
| KP Energy | First wholesaler in Sweden to launch Rebaba's systems |
| Smartports | Strategic collaborator for solar carports across Europe |
| Stena Recycling | Partner in Vinnova industrial scaling project |
| OKQ8 Group | Partner in Vinnova industrial scaling project |
The known unknowns of second-life supply
The model faces questions regarding the supply of used EV batteries. The stream is still nascent, and batteries can vary in chemistry and condition, making the testing process costly.
The path from first container to first fleet
For now, Rebaba is in the early deployment phase. The partnership with KP Energy provides a sales channel. The collaboration with Smartports points to a specific application: using the containers to store solar power at carports. The company has also delivered a grid-connected system built with El och Marinteknik [cbinsights.com]. The next twelve months will likely be about proving repeatability.
Sources
- [rebaba.se] Rebaba secures 5.5 million SEK pre-seed round | https://rebaba.se/
- [nordiskaprojekt.se, 2026] KP Energy första grossist i Sverige med Rebabas cirkulära batterilösningar | https://www.nordiskaprojekt.se/2026/03/19/kp-energy-forsta-grossist-i-sverige-med-rebabas-cirkulara-batterilosningar/
- [dagenslogistik.se] Cirkulära lösningar ska stärka energigrossisten | https://dagenslogistik.se/cirkulara-losningar-ska-starka-energigrossisten/
- [di.se] Paula Runsten has background from Tesla and Northvolt | https://di.se
- [linkedin.com, 2026] Felix Kruse - Rebaba | LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/felixkruse1/
- [miningmetalnews.com, 2025] Vinnova co-funded project 'Industrial Scaling of a Circular Battery Value Chain' | https://miningmetalnews.com
- [news.cision.com, 2025] Strategic collaboration with Smartports signed October 8, 2025 | https://news.cision.com
- [cbinsights.com] Delivered grid-connected energy storage system with El och Marinteknik | https://www.cbinsights.com
- [pitchbook.com, 2026] Rebaba 2026 Company Profile | https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/572117-68