U.S. utility company Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) of California is expanding public testing of two-way electric vehicle charging with three new pilot programs that include up to 1,000 residential and commercial customers. hundreds of commercial customers.
Each program will provide incentives for customers to participate, with “additional benefits” for those in disadvantaged communities, PG&E said in a press release. All three programs are expected to begin in 2022 or 2023 and will continue until the end of the offer, the utility said.
A program for household customers will be open to up to 1,000 EV drivers with their own homes. They will receive at least $2,500 when they sign up and up to an additional $2,175 depending on their participation, PG&E said.
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The extension will also run tests for corporate customers with up to 200 locations. Participating businesses will also receive at least $2,500 when they sign up, but up to $3,625 depending on their participation.
Finally, a “microgrid” pilot aims to see what EVs can Provide backup power in case of power failure. This will primarily focus on mid- and heavy-duty vehicles, but may also include light vehicles, PG&E notes. Up to 200 participants will receive at least $2,500 upon registration and up to $3,750 thereafter.
These pilot programs are separate from studies that PG&E has run with Ford and on a more limited basis, with Synthetic engine.
Electric Island – Daimler Trucks North America and PGE – Portland OR
Interest in two-way charging is growing and it partly related to interest in solar energy. The concept has been discussed for years, but the lack of production vehicles capable of two-way charging has been an obstacle. However, that is starting to change.
The E-GMP platform underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 with built-in two-way charging. Volkswagen also plans to offer mass-market EVs, like ID.4, that charge two-way starting in 2022.
In California, heat waves and wildfires prompted swift action on studying electric vehicle charging habits and potentially using fleets of electric vehicles to help stabilize the grid. But two-way charging also studied at the national level of the United States Department of Energy.
