The California Energy Commission (CEC), through its Clean Transportation Program, has awarded a $2.9 million grant to The Mobility House-led project team to deploy 12 bidirectional chargers across four California school locations.
The project, named “Replicable V2X Deployment for Schools (RVXDS)”, will use school bus fleets to address regional grid emergencies, particularly during peak summertime periods. It will use replicable, open standards throughout the vehicles, hardware, and software.
The Mobility House, an electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy solutions company, has partnered with organizations, including the World Resources Institute, Center for Transportation and the Environment, and Polara Energy USA, to support Fremont Unified School District, Pittsburg Unified School District, and the Napa Unified School District.
The project will mark one of the first installations of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) connected systems within PG&E territory. It will see three schools exporting power from their buses during peak summer periods, earning districts $2 per kWh through the Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP) and preventing overloading of the community distribution system.
Additionally, one school will utilize bidirectional functionality for Vehicle-to-Building (V2B) resilience, acting as a community resilience hub.
“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 Mobility House plans to document all project insights in a comprehensive Blueprint report, offering guidance to districts statewide on incorporating V2G into their school bus charging operations. Beyond financial benefits, the project is expected to enhance grid reliability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support disadvantaged communities during grid interruptions.
“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.
