Toyota Motor North America (Toyota) and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), a Southern California-based public utility that serves 3.7 million people, will collaborate on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) research for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) using a Toyota bZ4X. The V2G research will explore bidirectional power flow technology that enables BEV... Read more →
Polestar is joining stakeholders in the electricity grid sector with a large-scale vehicle-to-grid (V2G) project in Gothenburg, Sweden, funded by the Swedish Innovation Agency Vinnova and piloting a large fleet of Polestar 3 cars. Together with Swedish National Grid authority Svenska kraftnät, local grid owner Göteborg Energi Nät, regional energy... Read more →
Volvo Cars launches new Energy Solutions business, immediate focus on V2G
05 November 2023
Volvo Cars has launched Volvo Cars Energy Solutions—a completely new business unit that will offer energy storage and charging-related technologies and services, including bi-directional charging. For example, bi-directional charging is a technology that allows an electric car to give back extra battery power to a compatible grid, helping to balance... Read more →
Wallbox and Bidirectional Energy selected by California Energy Commission for proposed awards to deploy V2X chargers across California
04 November 2023
Wallbox announced a partnership with Bidirectional Energy, a bidirectional EV energy management software platform, that has culminated in both companies being selected to receive significant funding from the highly competitive California Energy Commission (CEC) REDWDS grant. The companies plan to offer Wallbox’s second-generation DC bidirectional charger, Quasar 2, with the... Read more →
USDOT opens $40M grant opportunity for V2X technologies
27 October 2023
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is now accepting applications under the $40 million Saving Lives with Connectivity: Accelerating V2X Deployment grant opportunity (693JJ324NF00003) to advance connected and interoperable vehicle technologies. The initiative is focused on road safety, mobility, and efficiency through technology that enables vehicles and... Read more →
Nineteen leading innovators in the automotive, bicycle and technology sectors have launched the Coalition for Cyclist Safety to work towards advancing and deploying connected transportation solutions to help reduce the risks facing cyclists and e-bike riders on North American roads. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, bicycles constitute... Read more →
CEA-Leti, a technology research institute at France’s CEA, announced a new R&D initiative to contribute to a higher level of vehicle automation and cooperation by expanding the latest developments in vehicular wireless communications that improve reaction time, pedestrian detection and overall vehicle performance. Combining learnings from its participation in three... Read more →
Phoenix Motorcars enables V2G capability for all bus & truck customers in partnership with Fermata Energy
18 October 2023
Phoenix Motor, a provider of electric medium-duty vehicles, and Fermata Energy LLC, a software provider of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) bidirectional charging platforms, announced the successful integration of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities for all medium-duty electric vehicles manufactured by Phoenix Motorcars. All Phoenix electric school buses, shuttle buses and trucks, from the first-generation... Read more →
BMW, Ford and Honda to create new company focused on optimizing EV grid services: ChargeScape
13 September 2023
BMW Group, Ford Motor Company and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. have entered into an agreement to create ChargeScape, LLC, a new equally-owned company that will create a single, cost-effective platform connecting electric utilities, automakers and interested electric vehicle customers. Benefiting both EV customers and the electric utility industry in... Read more →
Wallbox is working with Kia America to bring bidirectional charging to Kia’s EV9 customers. The companies plan to offer Wallbox’s second-generation DC bidirectional charger, Quasar 2 (earlier post), to Kia EV9 (earlier post)customers starting in the first half of 2024. Wallbox expects Quasar 2 to be the first EV charger... Read more →
GM to expand vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging across portfolio of upcoming Ultium-based EVs
09 August 2023
General Motors will expand vehicle-to-home (V2H) bidirectional charging technology across its retail portfolio of Ultium-based electric vehicles by model year 2026. The first vehicles to receive the technology include the previously announced 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST, followed by the 2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1; 2024 Chevrolet Blazer... Read more →
NY state to award $12M to advance EV adoption and integration with the grid
04 August 2023
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $12-million initiative to support the development and demonstration of innovative, replicable solutions that advance electric vehicle adoption and the integration of electric vehicles with the electric grid. (PON 5354) The initiative also seeks to support novel demonstrations of medium- and heavy-duty electric and... Read more →
TTTech Auto, a leader in automotive safety software, and ZettaScale Technology, a developer of communication technologies and protocols, have launched Zetta Auto. Zetta Auto is a data-centric communication solution focusing on safe, performant, and predictable Serviced-Oriented Architecture (SOA) communication. Extending the scope of the collaboration, Zetta Auto is also paving... Read more →
GM Energy offering three options for Ultium Home customers; leveraging V2H bidirectional charging
29 June 2023
GM Energy announced product details and specifications for its initial suite of upcoming Ultium Home offerings. The Ultium Home product offerings will be the first solutions to be made available to residential customers through GM Energy, and are designed to provide greater energy independence, resiliency and value, enabling the use... Read more →
Mobilize launching first commercial V2G service starting in 2024 with Renault 5; France, Germany and UK initially
17 June 2023
To accompany the Renault 5 launch, Mobilize, a Renault Group brand, is launching the Mobilize V2G service in partnership with The Mobility House, giving Renault 5 owners the ability to save on their home charging, reduce their overall electricity bill by feeding power from the vehicle back into their home... Read more →
PG&E and BMW of North America start V2X testing in California
17 May 2023
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and BMW of North America (BMW) are collaborating to test how vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can serve as a solution to offset growing demand on the power grid, improve reliability for electric customers, and maximize the usage of renewable energy. In addition, V2X technology could... Read more →
InCharge Energy has launched its vehicle-to-everything (V2X) DC fast charger portfolio. The ICE-22 V2X, ICE-44 V2X and ICE-66 V2X chargers provide fleet operators with chargers that optimize operations, increase cost efficiencies while supporting grid stability and enable them to qualify for electric vehicle (EV) grant funds that include a vehicle-to-grid... Read more →
Two Nissan LEAF electric vehicles (EVs) at the Plymouth State University (PSU) provided 1 MWh of energy to the PSU’s ALLWell Center, offsetting some of the building’s electricity needs, over a six-month period. The university is taking part in an utility rate program developed by its local utility New Hampshire... Read more →
CoBank report finds that troubled US grid may need to use EVs for grid balancing
10 February 2023
Since its inception, the US electric grid has mostly operated smoothly as one synchronous machine with a one-directional flow of electricity to meet the nation’s predictable power needs. However, as older centralized thermal resources are being replaced with more variable renewables and long-distance delivery systems are showing their age, that... Read more →
Toyota and Oncor to collaborate on V2G pilot
16 December 2022
Toyota Motor North America and Oncor Electric Delivery, a Texas-based electric transmission and distribution company, will collaborate on a pilot project around vehicle-to-grid (V2G), a technology that allows vehicles to flow energy from their battery back onto the electric grid. The effort will be led by Toyota’s Electric Vehicle Charging... Read more →
SMUD and Japan’s TEPCO partner on vehicle-grid integration technologies
09 November 2022
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), Japan’s largest electric utility, will collaborate on vehicle-grid integration technologies with the purpose of accelerating transportation electrification and decarbonization. As a pioneering utility for EV charging technologies in Japan, TEPCO has long been dedicated to establishing... Read more →
Monarch Tractor, maker of a fully electric autonomous tractor, and its Farm Electrification Consortium partners have received a $3-million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to accelerate electrification of agricultural equipment and demonstrate the ability of batteries in on-farm equipment to keep critical electrical loads running during power outages... Read more →
PG&E to offer US’ first vehicle-to-grid export rate for commercial electric vehicles
27 October 2022
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has received approval to establish the nation’s first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) export compensation mechanism for commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging customers in its California service area. The V2G export rate promotes EV adoption by providing upfront incentives to help commercial customers offset fleet costs and... Read more →
NXP Semiconductors has introduced the OrangeBox automotive-grade development platform, which integrates a wide variety of NXP wireless technologies, from broadcast radio, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth, to secure car access with Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and 802.11p-based V2X. The OrangeBox is a single, security enhanced, modular development platform... Read more →
Fermata Energy announced the upcoming release of its second V2X bidirectional charger, the FE-20. With multiple commercial projects already successfully deployed with its FE-15 bidirectional charger, Fermata Energy is adding a second commercial charger option with the FE-20 to meet the increasing demand for V2X installations. V2X includes vehicle-to-grid (V2G)... Read more →
Volkswagen’s Elli and Elia Group partner to integrate EVs into the grid
24 September 2022
Elli, the Volkswagen subsidiary that manages all activities related to charging and energy for the Group in Europe, the Elia Group and its start-up re.alto signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Berlin. The MoU underscores the signatories’ shared vision of integrating electric cars into the electricity system. Over the... Read more →
Nissan, working with Fermata Energy, a vehicle-to-grid services provider, has approved the first bi-directional charger for use with the Nissan LEAF in the US. With Nissan’s approval, along with its UL 9741 certification for bi-directional charging systems, the Fermata Energy FE-15 charger has passed key requirements from Nissan, and has... Read more →
Duke Energy partnering with Ford in V2G pilot
19 August 2022
Duke Energy and Ford Motor Company are partnering on a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot. Duke Energy has filed for North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) approval of a new demand response pilot program expected to launch in 2023 for customers in the Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) service area. Pilot incentives will reduce... Read more →
Revel, NineDot Energy and Fermata Energy announced that the first Vehicle to Grid (V2G) program connected to NYC’s grid is now live at Revel’s Red Hook, Brooklyn warehouse. Revel, a Brooklyn-based electric mobility and infrastructure company, partnered with V2G and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) provider Fermata Energy and clean energy developer NineDot... Read more →
SAFE and the EC report recommends policies to advance adoption of vehicle-to-grid technology
16 June 2022
SAFE and the Electrification Coalition (EC) released a report highlighting policy opportunities to accelerate the adoption of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates across all vehicle classes, V2G capability can help manage system load and provide power back to the grid during times of need, thereby strengthening... Read more →
Qualcomm unveils next-gen powerline communication device to support vehicle-to-EVSE smart-grid communications
23 May 2022
In continued efforts to support the growing electric vehicle (EV) segment, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced a next-generation powerline communication (PLC) device, the QCA7006AQ, designed to address the needs for electric vehicle (EV) charging station communications—also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)—that use global Combined Charging System (CCS). The PLC... Read more →
Rhombus Energy Solutions use Wolfspeed’s SiC devices for faster EV charging infrastructure
10 May 2022
Silicon Carbide technology leader Wolfspeed, Inc. will supply 1200V Silicon Carbide MOSFETs to Rhombus Energy Solutions for its EV2flex line of charging infrastructure products, enabling greater efficiency, higher power density and faster charging times. Rhombus’ EV2flex infrastructure includes a family of products that enables fast, bi-directional charging and efficient energy... Read more →
CPUC approves $11.7M for three new PG&E vehicle-to-grid pilots
06 May 2022
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved $11.7 million in funding for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to develop three new pilot programs to test how bidirectional electric vehicles (EVs) and chargers can provide power to the electric grid and other benefits to customers. PG&E will test bidirectional... Read more →
DOE and partners announce V2X collaboration
21 April 2022
The US Department of Energy (DOE) and partners announced the Vehicle to Everything (V2X) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will bring together resources from DOE, DOE national labs, state and local governments, utilities, and private entities to evaluate technical and economic feasibility as we integrate bidirectional charging into energy infrastructure.... Read more →
A realistic pilot test conducted by Porsche, the grid operator TransnetBW and consulting firm Intelligent Energy System Services (IE2S), has demonstrated that electrical balancing power can be stored in the high-voltage batteries of an intelligent swarm of electric cars. Five series-production Taycan were connected to the power grid via the... Read more →
Volkswagen rolling out ID. Software 3.0; cloud-based with swarm intelligence
23 March 2022
Volkswagen is rolling out ID. Software 3.0 with new functions for tis all-electric ID. models, enhancing user experience and optimizing charging capacity. By using swarm data and the most recent generation of driver assistance systems, Volkswagen is also taking the next step towards automated driving. Buyers of new cars will... Read more →
Audi of America is working with Spoke, a mobility platform for safety, connectivity, and rich rider experiences; Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.; and Commsignia to bring the benefits of cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology to vulnerable road users (VRUs) and enhance safety on roadways. Using C-V2X technology, the companies are working together by... Read more →
PG&E and Ford collaborate on bidirectional electric vehicle charging technology in customers’ homes
11 March 2022
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Ford Motor Company announced a collaboration exploring how Ford’s new F-150 Lightning electric vehicle (EV)—the first commercially available light-duty truck with bidirectional charging technology (earlier post)—can interact with the electric grid and provide electric reliability benefits to PG&E customers. One in five EVs... Read more →
PG&E and GM to collaborate on vehicle-to-home pilot for EVs
09 March 2022
Pacific Gas and Electric Company and General Motors are collaborating to pilot the use of GM electric vehicles as on-demand power sources for homes in PG&E’s service area. G&E and GM will test vehicles with bidirectional charging technology that can help safely power the essential needs of a properly equipped... Read more →
Commsignia connects bicycles to V2X ecosystem with Spoke
25 February 2022
Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) company Commsignia is collaborating with Vulnerable Road User (VRU) safety experts Spoke to provide automotive-grade Cellular-V2X (C-V2X) software solutions for cyclists, motorcyclists and e-scooter riders. Spoke is building on Commsignia’s more than a decade worth of experience in V2X to connect its users to the digital road safety... Read more →
Siemens worked with Ford on bi-directional charger for F-150 Lightning retail customers
10 February 2022
Siemens eMobility announced that it has worked with Ford on the Ford Charge Station Pro, a custom electric vehicle (EV) charger for the Ford F-150 Lightning. (Earlier post.) This innovative charger is the first bidirectional-ready EV solution set for release at retail customer scale to receive certification under the newly... Read more →
Ford is partnering with solar company Sunrun to enhance home energy management, leveraging the onboard battery capability of the all-electric F-150 Lightning. Americans experienced the most power interruptions on record in 2020, according to the US Energy Information Administration; with F-150 Lightning, homeowners can use their truck to maintain their... Read more →
BYD introduced its Type A battery-electric school bus that also offers innovative vehicle-to-grid technology, allowing the vehicle to serve as a power storage resource when it’s not transporting students. Just like our Type D bus introduced last year [earlier post], our Type A bus bi-directional charging capability is a game... Read more →
V2X company Fermata Energy raises $40M in recent round
23 January 2022
Fermata Energy, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology services provider, recently raised $40 million to accelerate the company’s growth with investment from new partners, including funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle and Verizon Ventures. The company’s V2X software technology aims to transform electric vehicles into energy-storage assets, making EV ownership more... Read more →
Honda is partnering with the V2X Suisse consortium to demonstrate the role of electric vehicles (EVs) and bi-directional charging technology in the future of energy management. Honda will supply 50 Honda e electric vehicles (earlier post) to Switzerland’s car-sharing operator, Mobility. The Honda e units will be used as part... Read more →
A team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has completed a literature review on the potential value of EV managed charging. Their findings, published in Energy & Environmental Science, provide a comprehensive look at how EVs and the grid could work together as the electric and transportation sectors become... Read more →
Wallbox, a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions worldwide, introduced Quasar 2, the latest generation of its bidirectional home chargers designed specifically for the North American market. As well as enabling EV owners to charge and discharge their electric vehicle to power their home or... Read more →
The available Pro Power Onboard feature enables the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning and F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid trucks to function as power sources on wheels with multiple uses. Now, Ford is adding another benefit: vehicle-to-vehicle charging using the Ford-exclusive Pro Power Onboard 240-volt outlet. When connected to an F-150 Lightning or... Read more →
Charging and energy are becoming a core business for Volkswagen; the company is building a universal and seamless eco-system for charging its electric models. The We Charge service will be enhanced step-by-step to offer higher performance, convenience and sustainability—with new charging solutions for home and mobile charging, new functions in... Read more →
Iteris, a global provider of smart mobility infrastructure management, and global mobility supplier Continental launched Vantage Fusion, a hybrid traffic detection system that enables real-world vehicle-to-everything (V2X) applications and advanced intersection visualization for safer, smarter and more sustainable roadways. The Vantage Fusion hybrid video and radar detection system delivers unmatched... Read more →