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 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 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 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 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 →
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 →
Gridtractor has launched from stealth to develop charging technology, fleet electrification, and energy management services for electric tractors and heavy farm equipment. Gridtractor will help farmers integrate electric charging and vehicle to grid (V2G) into their operations to strengthen the power grid with its smart energy platform. In addition, the... Read more →
An electric school bus in Beverly, Massachusetts, successfully delivered power back to the electricity grid for more than 50 hours over the course of the summer using vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. This is the first time an electric school bus has been leveraged as an energy resource by the regional utility... Read more →
BYD and Levo Mobility, a joint venture of Nuvve Holding Corp., affiliates of Stonepeak Partners LP, and Evolve Transition Infrastructure LP that provides Fleet-as-a-Service (FaaS) solutions enabling fleets to switch to electric vehicles rapidly, will partner to integrate Nuvve’s leading vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology with a mix of BYD battery electric... Read more →
A team at the University of Oregon is working to give bicyclists smoother rides by allowing them to communicate with traffic signals via a mobile app. The latest report to come out of this multi-project research effort introduces machine-learning algorithms to work with their mobile app FastTrack. Developed and tested... Read more →
Mercedes-Benz is adding additional Car-to-X functions that can detect large potholes. Large potholes are a safety hazard, because if drivers do not recognize them in time, they can no longer take evasive action or reduce their speed. There is also a risk of damage to tires and the suspension system.... Read more →
EDF, through EDF Group subsidiary DREEV, has launched a new commercial charging service using vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in the UK, in partnership with Nissan. This means businesses can support the grid by consuming low carbon energy, and progress towards their net zero and decarbonization targets, whils reducing their costs. The... Read more →
Exro Technologies is introducing a new application for its patented Coil Driver technology—enabling EVs to fast charge seamlessly and provide electricity back to the grid regardless of power source or charger type. Coil Driver is a next-generation dynamic motor controller that expands the capabilities of electric motors by enabling multiple... Read more →
According to a new study by researchers from Delft University of Technology, in the context of current recharging time, Dutch EV drivers in general prefer not to participate in “vehicle-to-grid” (V2G) contracts, while the opposite is true in the context of fast recharging. With regard to specific V2G contract attributes,... Read more →
The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE), issued a request for information (RFI) (DE-FOA-0002528) seeking feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to integrating electric vehicles (EVs) with the grid.... Read more →
Hyundai Motor North America introduced the IONIQ 5 (earlier post), an electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV) with a targeted driving range of 300 miles, design inspired by Hyundai’s ‘45’ EV concept (unveiled at the International Motor Show (IAA) 2019 in Frankfurt ), relevant technology and ultra-fast charging from 10 to... Read more →
SAE International announced revisions to SAE J3072 Standard: Interconnection Requirements for Onboard, Utility-Interactive Inverter Systems and SAE J2847/3 Recommended Practice: Communication for Plug-in Vehicles as a Distributed Energy Source. The updated electrical vehicle charging documents will play a major role in advancing automotive requirements for Distributed Energy Resources (DER) projects.... Read more →
The BMW Group and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E;) announced an expanded partnership that further leverages renewable energy to sustainably power electric vehicles (EVs). ChargeForward is the first smart charging program to offer customers incentives for maximizing the integration of renewable energy while optimizing their EV charging. This advanced... Read more →
EV Connect, a California-based software-as-a-service company, is collaborating with the Indiana-based Battery Innovation Center (BIC) and Energy Systems Network (ESN) to deploy Indiana’s first large-scale Vehicle-to-Grid capable charging system to support school bus fleet, HD truck, and other customer segment applications. EV Connect provides its electric vehicle charging management solution... Read more →
Audi is using high-precision swarm data for the first time to improve its car-to-X service “local hazard alerts”. The new version uses a car-to-cloud application that is based on a novel procedure for estimating the coefficient of friction on the basis of the wheel slip. The technology can detect minute... Read more →
Rhombus Energy Solutions announced the certification of its bi-directional 125 kilowatt (kW) DC fast charger to the Underwriter Laboratories 1741-SA standard. This latest certification now provides medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) EV fleet operators with two Rhombus products to meet their needs: the Rhombus 125kW charger and the previously-certified Rhombus 60kW... Read more →
HARMAN International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. focused on connected technologies for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, is acquiring substantially all the assets of Savari, Inc., a Silicon Valley-based automotive technology company developing vehicle-to-everything communications (V2X) technology in 5G Edge and automotive devices. Savari’s software and hardware... Read more →
The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) (Maryland) Board of Education approved a contract on Tuesday evening with Highland Electric Transportation, a provider of turnkey electric fleet solutions, to convert the MCPS school bus fleet to all-electric, starting with 326 school buses over the next four years. This project represents the... Read more →
Russelectric, a manufacturer of distributed energy and microgrid control systems for mission-critical commercial facilities that was acquired by Siemens in 2018, has added electrical vehicle charging capabilities at its Hingham, Massachusetts, facility. In 2017, Russelectric installed a renewable, hybrid microgrid at its Hingham location, consisting of grid power, a solar... Read more →
