Berlin-based roaming provider Hubject has partnered with Siemens subsidiary Heliox, Accelera by Cummins, and electric school bus manufacturer Blue Bird to launch the first commercial interoperable vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging solution in the United States based on the ISO 15118-20 international standard.
The initiative focuses on electric school buses that can not only draw electricity from the grid but also feed energy back, helping to stabilize demand fluctuations and create new income opportunities while vehicles are parked. The Heliox V2G-capable DC fast chargers used in the project meet ISO 15118-20 requirements, supporting secure and standardized bidirectional communication between vehicles and charging infrastructure.
Hubject provides the digital infrastructure enabling secure plug & charge authentication, while Accelera by Cummins supplies integrated electric powertrains that facilitate V2G capabilities in Blue Bird’s electric buses. Blue Bird has been involved in V2G trials since 2020 and continues to collaborate on expanding the technology’s commercial viability.
“The V2G technology offers immense potential for grid balancing, cost savings, and energy resilience—especially for high-utilisation fleets such as school buses,” Hubject said. The partners aim to demonstrate the interoperability and effectiveness of the standard across different brands and operational scenarios.
Electric school buses in North America are seen as ideal candidates for V2G because they operate on fixed routes twice daily and remain parked for extended periods, allowing their batteries to act as energy buffers. During low demand, the buses can absorb excess renewable energy, such as solar power, and return it to the grid during peak periods.
This project builds on a growing number of V2G initiatives in North America, including grant-funded programs by the California Energy Commission and utility-backed schemes to prevent grid outages. The technology is also expanding into other sectors, such as medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in Canada and marine vessels in transatlantic collaborations.
By advancing real-world deployments, the Hubject-led collaboration is expected to contribute to the refinement of technical standards and regulatory frameworks needed to support broader V2G adoption in the coming years.