Connecting EVs to the grid (Vehicle-to-Grid or V2G) to use the batteries as a place to store excess electricity and feed it back at times of shortage is a hot topic. This two-way flow of energy helps stabilize the grid, especially during times of peak demand. It’s a breakthrough that’s becoming increasingly relevant as more EVs hit the road and renewable energy plays a bigger role in our power supply.  But progress has been frustratingly slow.  There has been some progress on V2H or vehicle-to-home, which is simpler.  Several car manufacturers now sell vehicles with bidirectional charging capabilities.

In a CleanStart Perspectives webcast on September 5, hosted by Thomas Hall, Executive Director of CleanStart, two experts discussed how this technology is reshaping the way we think about energy and transportation. Kacy Marrs, a Sacramento entrepreneur known for his work in electric bikes, shared how he first learned about V2G back in 2016. At the time, the idea of using vehicles as mobile batteries was new and exciting, but the challenges of grid safety made it difficult to implement. However, as the technology has evolved, V2G is starting to gain real traction, with utilities, grid managers, and fleet operators recognizing its potential.

One of the most promising applications of V2G is in school buses, which sit idle for much of the day and during summer months. Vanessa Fiore, an expert in V2G projects from Canada, highlighted how school districts could use this downtime to feed power back into the grid, creating additional revenue streams and enhancing grid resilience. Kacy spoke about a project in Long Beach where electric school buses are being equipped with V2G capabilities, set to provide up to 2.5 megawatts of power to the grid.  The use case for V2G in school buses may be the strongest of all the possibilities because the payments to the fleet operators are relatively easy to calculate and easy to collect. This is because tapping school bus fleets may also be the easiest for CAISO to integrate into its grid management since it is almost like a stationary source.  V2G for the average individual’s EV may be much farther off. 

The technology has tremendous promise, but there are still hurdles to overcome—particularly when it comes to cost. V2G-capable chargers are more expensive than traditional EV chargers, making widespread adoption difficult. Fortunately, initiatives like California’s ZESPI grant, which offers up to $95,000 per charger, are helping to bring this technology within reach for schools and other fleet operators. However, approving applications to get the funding is moving slowly.

The webcast is available for you to watch in full on our YouTube channel.