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Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) has successfully energized its new vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging system for its electric school bus fleet. In a project presented by The Mobility House, the district can now discharge energy from its bus batteries to support electric grid resilience. This innovative system marks a significant step forward in leveraging electric vehicles as assets for community energy stability.
Key Highlights
- Fremont Unified School District has implemented a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging system for its electric school bus fleet.
- The system, managed by The Mobility House’s ChargePilot® technology, allows buses to send power back to the grid during high-demand periods.
- The project enables participation in Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP), offsetting operational costs.
- Funding for the V2G infrastructure was provided by a grant from the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program.
How the V2G System Works
The newly commissioned system represents the first phase of a two-phase project that will ultimately include six bidirectional chargers. The technology operates through a sophisticated, multi-step process managed by The Mobility House.
First, the ChargePilot® charge management system handles the daily smart charging of the buses. Fleet operators can easily control and monitor this process through an intuitive online dashboard, ensuring buses are always ready for their routes. When PG&E anticipates an emergency energy event, it sends a notification via OpenADR to The Mobility House’s market aggregation platform.
Based on this notification and current time-of-use electricity prices, the platform calculates optimal charging schedules. ChargePilot® then adjusts the fleet’s charging optimization to discharge power back to the grid, reducing the site’s overall load during the emergency event. This entire process is seamless, continuing to ensure vehicle readiness for their scheduled departure times. By participating in the ELRP, the district can significantly offset charging costs, making fleet operations more efficient and cost-effective.
Community and Grid Impact
This project highlights how electric school buses can serve a dual purpose. “We’ve already seen how the electric buses can contribute to cleaner air for our community,” said Ernest Epley, FUSD’s Director of Transportation. “Now, we have the opportunity to use these buses to deliver clean and reliable energy too.”
The initiative transforms electric buses from simple transportation vehicles into mobile power sources. “Electric school buses, with their large batteries and predictable schedules, have tremendous potential to support the electric grid with V2G,” stated Gregor Hintler, CEO North America of The Mobility House. “We are proud to provide the technology that enables the district to drive clean and support community energy resilience.”
PG&E also recognizes the project’s broad benefits. “This project is a shining example of how innovation creates a cleaner, smarter energy future,” noted Mike Delaney, Vice President of Utility Partnership and Innovation at PG&E.
Project Funding and Partnerships
The successful implementation of this V2G infrastructure project was made possible by a grant from the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program. The celebratory launch event was co-presented by The Mobility House and included project partners such as the World Resources Institute, the Center for Transportation and the Environment, and Polara.
About The Mobility House
The Mobility House is dedicated to shaping a zero-emissions future in energy and mobility. The company provides resilient and flexible charging technology, ensuring drivers can benefit from zero-emissions and zero-cost charging. By integrating flexible charging with energy systems, The Mobility House helps stabilize the grid with clean energy. The company currently manages more than 2,500 EV fleet charging facilities globally.
About the California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission serves as the state’s primary agency for energy policy and planning. Its key responsibilities include shaping state energy policy, promoting energy efficiency, and investing in energy innovation. The commission also focuses on developing renewable energy, transforming transportation, and preparing for energy emergencies.
For more details, visit https://www.energy.ca.gov.
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