Fremont Schools Lead V2G Revolution with PG&E
A pioneering Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) project is underway in Fremont, California, with The Mobility House successfully implementing a V2G charging system at Fremont Unified School District. This project, currently in its first phase, is set to expand this fall with six bidirectional chargers coming online.
The Fremont V2G project is part of Pacific Gas & Electric's (PG&E) Emergency Load Reduction Program. It uses OpenADR, a standard for utilities to control distributed energy resources, enabling the school buses to provide power back to the grid during peak demand periods. The project is managed daily by ChargePilot, a market aggregation platform, which optimizes charging schedules for operational efficiency and sustainability.
The district expects to reduce net charging costs by harnessing the batteries' stored energy. This innovative approach aligns with Fremont's sustainability goals and demonstrates the potential of V2G technology in the school bus industry. Meanwhile, Tucson Electric Power is set to follow suit with its own V2G project this fall, while Fuse Power has already launched Canada's first V2G electric school bus project.
The Fremont V2G project is poised to deliver significant operational and environmental benefits. As it progresses to its second phase this fall, it serves as a testament to the growing traction of V2G technology in the school bus industry, with more utilities and districts expected to adopt similar initiatives in the near future.
