Charging software provider ev.energy has secured a $41 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop a dynamic Electric Vehicle (EV) Virtual Power Plant (VPP). The goal of the initiative is to enhance access to affordable charging for EV drivers while bolstering grid reliability and integrating renewable energy sources.
As part of its “ChargeWise program,” ev.energy will collaborate with select California utilities and Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs), including MCE, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Peninsula Clean Energy, and Southern California Edison, to enroll thousands of EV drivers for the VPP in the first phase. The second phase, slated to commence later this year, aims to include 275,000 EV drivers, equivalent to five per cent of California’s fleet.
See also: Con Edison and Orange & Rockland Team Up with ev.energy to Incentivize EV Charging in New York
ev.energy’s CEO and founder, Nick Woolley, emphasized the significance of the grant, stating, “California’s ChargeWise program will create a global blueprint for how public and private partnerships can augment these much-needed solutions and address the inequity of affordable access to EV charging.” He highlighted the importance of underserved communities participating in the clean energy transition.
The grant falls under the “Responsive, Easy Charging Products With Dynamic Signals” (REDWDS) program. According to ev.energy, select utilities and CCAs will match the CEC funding, with a particular focus on disadvantaged communities as defined by the CEC. The company aims for fifty per cent of participants to come from these communities, collectively receiving over $50 million in incentives over the next four years.
See also: Universal EV Chargers Awarded Grants to Expand EV Charging Network Across Illinois
Melanie Biesecker, Customer Programs Manager at MCE for transportation electrification, praised the partnership, stating, “MCE’s partnership with ev.energy will provide EV drivers with greater access to grid-friendly charging solutions that save them money and support the clean energy transition.” She emphasized the grant’s role in advancing access to simple, affordable, and green EV charging, aligning with California’s commitment to decarbonization.
