The Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) has activated a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system that allows its electric school buses to feed power back into the electric grid during high-demand periods.
Developed in partnership with The Mobility House, this project leverages the district’s electric bus fleet to bolster community energy resilience and reduce operational costs.
The system uses The Mobility House’s ChargePilot® technology to manage bidirectional charging, enabling buses to discharge electricity during emergency events notified by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) through the Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP). This first phase includes multiple chargers and smart charge management that balances vehicle readiness with grid support.
Ernest Epley, Director of Transportation at FUSD, said, “We’ve already seen how the electric buses can contribute to cleaner air for our community. Now, we have the opportunity to use these buses to deliver clean and reliable energy too.” Gregor Hintler, CEO North America of The Mobility House, added, “Electric school buses, with their large batteries and predictable schedules, have tremendous potential to support the electric grid with V2G.”
PG&E Vice President Mike Delaney noted the project as “a shining example of how innovation creates a cleaner, smarter energy future.” Funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program, the initiative also involves partners such as the World Resources Institute and the Center for Transportation and the Environment. This deployment showcases the growing role of electric vehicles as assets for grid stability and sustainability.