Vancouver, BC – February 25th, 2026 – Moment Energy, one of North America’s leading EV battery repurposing companies, today announced the appointment of battery scientist Dr. Kandler Smith as Technical Fellow, further strengthening the company’s battery energy storage systems (BESS) platform and expanding its core battery science capabilities.
The company also welcomes Dorian West, former Tesla engineering leader, as Strategic Advisor. Together, Smith and West bring unmatched expertise in battery modelling, system engineering, and large-scale product deployment to accelerate Moment Energy’s mission to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy storage solutions.
“We are excited to be working with the top minds in the world as Moment Energy pushes the boundaries of battery performance as we continue to scale Gigawatt-hours globally. Dr. Kandler Smith’s modelling expertise and Dorian’s engineering leadership cement our position as the top EV battery repurposer. Together, they are helping us build highly scalable systems that treat rigorous safety certifications as our baseline, not a hurdle to work around.”
said Edward Chiang, CEO and Co-Founder of Moment Energy.
Smith brings 20 years of experience from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where he led the Electrochemical Modelling & Data Science team within the Energy Storage Group. He holds nine patents in lithium-ion battery design and control, 12 software copyrights in neural networks and lithium-ion modelling, and has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles with over 10,000 citations.
As Technical Fellow, he will lead advanced battery life and performance modelling, SOC/SOH algorithm development, and second-life battery research. Drawing from his pioneering NREL work, which includes developing lifetime simulation tools to estimate end-of-life battery value and modeling the safe installation of repurposed packs. His expertise will enhance Moment Energy’s proprietary AI-driven Battery Management System (BMS). This system underpins its UL 1973, UL 9540, and UL 9540A-certified Luna BESS, delivering more than 30% cost savings compared to first-life battery systems.
“Second-life EV batteries are becoming critical to enabling affordable, reliable, and clean energy storage, and I’m excited about joining Moment Energy to help address this at such a pivotal time, I am excited to join a dynamic team of engineers and scientists who are focused on the safe design of large-scale batteries with low cost and long lifetime.”
said Kandler Smith.
Dorian West brings strategic guidance from his 15-year tenure at Tesla (2005–2020), where he helped launch the original Roadster battery pack and later served as Director of Engineering, leading the Model 3 and Tesla Semi prototype programs. His insights will strengthen Moment Energy’s engineering and product development roadmap as the company expands into new markets and applications.
"I'm thrilled to support Moment Energy, which is pioneering the utilization of excess energy storage assets. This is an important, yet solvable problem, and it's great to work with such a talented and enthusiastic team."
said Dorian West, Strategic Advisor to Moment Energy.
Supporting the company’s commercialization efforts, Carl Mansfield, VP of Business Development, and Sathvik Tantry, Strategic Advisor, will help scale Moment Energy’s technology and deployments globally. Mansfield brings deep experience in the commercialization of behind-the-meter energy storage and utility-scale virtual power plants, while Tantry contributes strategic expertise in growth and partnerships across clean technology sectors.
Supporting Quotes
Carl Mansfield, VP of Business Development
“At Moment Energy, we are actively shifting the energy paradigm by proving that discarded EV batteries can be repurposed into high-value, bankable assets for the electric grid. I am privileged to join this mission where I will focus on architecting the scalable operations necessary to expedite our expansion across North America and international markets.”
Sathvik Tantry, Strategic Advisor
"Moment Energy's exceptional technology platform is poised for growth across multiple markets, and I look forward to supporting the team in scaling sales operations to meet rapidly growing demands"
About Moment Energy
Moment Energy is North America's leading large-format battery repurposing company, powering commercial and industrial operations with high-performance battery energy storage systems (BESS). By working with industry partners and major automotive companies, Moment Energy's technology reduces energy costs, supports grid resilience, and keeps batteries out of landfills. Moment Energy is rapidly scaling to provide worldwide access to affordable, reliable, and clean power.
Claus Eckbo, Owner, God’s Pocket Resort
Off-Grid, Port Hardy, British Columbia
Moment Energy Flora BESS
66% reduction in diesel usage
PROBLEM
Preserving the "Rustic Feel"
God’s Pocket Resort stands as a world-renowned destination for cold-water diving and kayaking, nestled on a remote island accessible only by boat. For over 100 years, the area has served as a refuge for sailors and fishermen, and today the resort continues that tradition of sanctuary by offering adventurers a rustic, immersive experience far from the grid.
However, operating off-grid presented a loud and expensive problem. For years, the resort relied entirely on a traditional setup utilizing lead-acid battery banks and diesel generators.
"It’s the traditional way to set things up, but it poses many challenges with running larger machinery and having heavy energy demands."
Claus Eckbo, Owner of God’s Pocket Resort
The constant hum of generators distracted from the natural beauty guests came to see, and the logistics of transporting thousands of litres of diesel to a remote island proved both costly and risky. Claus required a solution capable of handling the resort’s heavy energy load, including the kitchen, dive compressors, and guest lodging, without compromising the environment he and visiting guests cherished.
SOLUTION
Designed to evolve.
Claus partnered with Moment Energy to install the Flora battery energy storage system, a repurposing-first energy storage solution designed to withstand the rigors of remote operation. Three years and 1,000 cycles later, the resort operates on a completely different rhythm. Since the initial installation, Claus has successfully upgraded the resort’s infrastructure by integrating a new solar array that feeds directly into the BESS. This solar upgrade allows the batteries to charge from the sun, further reducing dependency on the generator in keeping operations running.
"The impact on the environment is significantly lower, I started to realize how quiet the machinery is because we’re not having to run the generators at the same time."
Claus Eckbo, Owner of God’s Pocket Resort
The system has done more than maintain the status quo. It has enabled growth and proven itself as a reliable partner in the resort's evolution, integrating seamlessly as Claus continues to invest in elevating the immersive, natural experience guests value most.
SUPPORT
Built to last.
This summer, Moment Energy's team made the trip to God's Pocket to conduct routine maintenance on the battery system. Lauren Boers, Application Engineer, and Jarod Krane, Electrical Engineer, spent time on-site ensuring the system was operating to Moment Energy’s high performance standards and integrating smoothly with the resort's recent upgrades.
“The energy solution now, it completely changed the game, very impressed with Moment Energy and their entire team's commitment to ensuring that their solution is something that will last a very long time.”
Claus Eckbo, Owner of God’s Pocket Resort
This hands-on approach reflects Moment Energy's customer-first core philosophy and commitment to long-lasting, sustainable solutions. Each battery module in God’s Pocket once powered an electric vehicle and was given a second life through rigorous testing, certification, and engineering at Moment Energy’s facility. The result is a clean, reliable, and affordable system that supports Claus’s vision for the future of his resort.
"Being a local company, we have the opportunity to build these relationships and come out to client sites to provide the maintenance that keeps the batteries operating year after year, it's something we really pride ourselves in."
Lauren Boers, Applications Engineer at Moment Energy
As Moment Energy advances the next-generation of its Luna and Nova systems, with higher energy density and modular swappability, the team remains just as focused on supporting customers beyond, and even before, installation. Grounded in a mission to make clean energy attainable and affordable, Moment Energy helps facilities secure BC Hydro incentives, federal tax credits, and financing support that routinely reduce project costs to less than 10% of the total capital investment.
For Claus and operations like God’s Pocket, it means having a partner that is committed not only to innovative technology but also to the long-term success of the project.
FUTURE
Powering what comes next.
As God's Pocket Resort enters its next phase of operation, the Moment Energy system continues to function as the backbone of its infrastructure. The 1,000th cycle marks just the beginning of a long lifespan that Claus expects will serve the resort's evolving needs for years to come. For remote operations facing similar challenges, whether resorts, research stations, or industrial sites, and more, God's Pocket demonstrates that battery energy storage isn't just about reducing costs. It's about building resilient, adaptable energy systems that improve operations today while supporting growth tomorrow. And with over 1,000 cycles behind it, this system is just getting started.
