Distributed Energy Resources, Industrial, Utilities - November 20, 2023
Toyota, SDG&E Collaborate on V2G Research
Toyota Motor North America (Toyota) entered into a collaboration for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) research for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) using a Toyota bZ4X. The automaker signed the agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), a Southern California-based public utility.
The V2G research will explore bidirectional power flow technology that enables BEV owners to both charge their vehicles' batteries from the electric grid and discharge electricity from the batteries back to the grid.
EVs with bidirectional capability can send power back to the grid during peak demand hours or at other critical times.
The collaboration between SDG&E and Toyota’s Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions (EVCS) team seeks to find synergies between the needs of BEV owners and the needs of the electricity grid.
“We are embracing the concept of an entire electrified ecosystem for our customers, and the ability for vehicles to integrate with the grid is an essential component of this ecosystem,” said Christopher Yang, group vice president, Toyota EV Charging Solutions, in a statement. “Working with leading utilities, such as SDG&E, will ensure that customers can continue to confidently charge at home. Toyota seeks to empower utilities to better anticipate and leverage the significant number of plug-in hybrid and BEVs on their grids, both as a growing source of energy demand and, in the future, energy supply.”
The V2G research will take place at SDG&E’s campus in San Diego, California using Fermata Energy’s bidirectional charger and V2G platform.
SDG&E and Toyota seek to identify current and future customer benefits that can be achieved through new products and services. The pilot program will also assist SDG&E in understanding what kind of infrastructure is needed to enable the rapid growth of EV charging infrastructure, both in public and private settings, and to further stabilize the power grid during peak hours.
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