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- California Energy Commission Awards $2.9 Million Grant for Electric School Bus Bidirectional Charging Infrastructure, Led by The Mobility House
California Energy Commission Awards $2.9 Million Grant for Electric School Bus Bidirectional Charging Infrastructure, Led by The Mobility House
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has awarded a $2.9 million grant to a project led by The Mobility House, an electric vehicle charging and energy solutions company. The project, named “Replicable V2X Deployment For Schools (RVXDS),” will install 12 bidirectional chargers at four California school locations. The aim is to use school bus fleets to alleviate regional grid emergencies, particularly during peak summertime periods.
The project will employ replicable, open standards across the vehicles, hardware, and software. The Mobility House has brought together a team of partners, including World Resources Institute, Center for Transportation and the Environment, and Polara Energy USA. These partners will support Pittsburg Unified School District, Fremont Unified School District, and the Napa Unified School District.
“Our interest is to establish real-world examples of V2G projects that other districts can easily replicate,” said Greg Hintler, CEO of North America at The Mobility House. “Through this project, we aim to reduce congestion on the same circuits by reducing the need for imported power, thus benefitting three school districts, the State of California, and grid reliability.”
The project will be one of the first Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) connected systems installed in PG&E territory. Three of the schools will export power from their buses during peak windows in the summer, earning the districts $2 per kWh through the Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP), and helping prevent their communities’ distribution systems from overloading. One school will use bidirectional functionality for V2B resilience, acting as a community resilience hub at their high school.
A Blueprint report will capture all project learnings, offering guidance for districts across the state on how to incorporate V2G into their school bus charging operations. This project will not only provide financial benefits but also improve grid reliability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support disadvantaged communities in times of grid interruption.
“This project is a game-changer for our district, marking a significant stride in our journey towards a sustainable future. It not only brings financial relief but also strengthens our community’s resilience,” said Matthew Belasco, Director of Maintenance, Operations and Transportation at the Pittsburg Unified School District. “We are thrilled to be part of this endeavor, demonstrating the potential of electric school buses to other districts across the state and setting a new standard for transportation in education.”