Unpredictable weather conditions continue to prompt consumers, especially electric vehicle shoppers, to prioritize features such as vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-home so they can power essential devices in a power outage. However, there’s also a push to get all the stationary EVs in driveways to add power to the grid. Five companies—Eversource, National Grid, EnergyHub, Sunrun and The Mobility House—on Thursday unveiled a joint effort to test vehicle-to-grid (V2G) for a program called ConnectedSolutions.
The program, which will let customers sell their stored energy back to the grid during peak periods, is expected to involve 60 customers. Massachusetts has some of the highest electricity costs in the U. S.
, at 34 cents per kWh or roughly $310 per month as of last week, according to EnergySage. That translates to an estimated 66% higher than the national average. And while New England might not be considered to be a prime EV market given the winter climate, ConnectedSolutions states there are at least 150,000 electric vehicles currently registered in the state and still expects that number to rise.
“Electric cars and buses with bidirectional charging have a valuable capability to provide emergency back up power and vehicle-to-grid,”Russell Vare, Vice President of Vehicle-Grid Integration at The Mobility House North America, stated in an official statement Thursday. An increasing number support V2G, such as models from General Motors like the Chevrolet Silverado and Cadillac Lyriq through its GM Energy subsidiary, the Kia EV9 and Ford’s now-defunct F-150 Lightning. The Tesla Cybertruck offers such capability with the Powershare Grid Support system, but only in some markets in Texas right now.
More models are expected to come to the U. S. , including ones already sold here that offer the V2G in Europe, such as various Volkswagen Group and Volvo cars.
Program participants do not need to live in a specific region of Massachusetts or even have a garage to apply. However, they will have to be assessed as to whether the home can support an acceptable EV charger if one isn’t already installed, including if the electrical supply is sufficient for any other required equipment. ConnectedSolutions is also including other types of buildings starting with schools and using electric school buses, while other medium-duty EVs are under consideration.
Already there are 45 residential units and 21 electric school buses involved in the program, and a new round of applications has opened. With high electricity costs and increasing fuel prices, EVs with V2G capabilities could be increasingly attractive in the future and join V2H and V2L as must-haves for all drivers in the future. There are so many screens out there to watch things on, and not all of them have to take up tons of space in a dorm room.
Believe it or not, there are still good laptops you can find that clinched't break the bank. Stay cool and enjoy the long, sunny days ahead with these gadgets to upgrade your life this summer and beyond. Modern EVs retain an average of 95% of their original range after five years, according to one analysis.
The EV company’s latest iOS app update includes code strings hinting at a future ID check for using its driver-assistance tech. JD Power’s annual report on new-car quality found that infotainment issues remain one of drivers’ biggest sources of frustration.