- In a U.S. first, home energy specialist Sunrun has partnered with Baltimore Gas and Electricity Company to transform a fleet of Ford F-150 Lightning electric trucks into mini power stations, feeding electricity back into the grid at times of demand.
- The pilot vehicle-to-grid (V2G) scheme, which has launched in Baltimore, Maryland, builds on the partnership’s existing vehicle-to-home (V2H) study, helping to create the first residential V2G power scheme in the country.
- So far between the summer and the end of September, three F-150 Lightning customers took part in the scheme, delivering power from their EV batteries back into the grid during times of peak electricity demand.
America gets closer to making V2G a mainstream reality
Under the trial, which ran between July and the end of September, the enrolled F-150 Lightnings gave energy back to the grid on weekdays, between the peak demand period between 5pm and 9pm. These participants were paid a sum based on the total amount of energy they shared during this period, up to a maximum of $1,000. This once again highlights how V2G could benefit not only country’s energy grids, but also financially benefit the participating customers. The trial is set to expand further through the fall and winter, allowing more F-150 Lightning drivers in the area to opt into the scheme.
Earlier this summer, the region in which the trial is operating experienced heatwaves that further tested grid resilience. Climate change is already making extreme weather events – both hot and cold – more common, with these conditions once again putting more strain on the grid. A future where millions of EVs contribute energy back to the grid could reduce these grid constraints, whilst also maximising the use of renewable energy and reducing climate change and its effects further down the line.
Baltimore City resident Morgan Grove, a participant in the trial, commented:
“As a member of the Baltimore Commission on Sustainability, I’m excited to be an early adopter of this technology and participate in this vehicle-to-grid program with BGE and Sunrun. I bought the Ford F-150 Lightning for several reasons, one of them being the ability to power our home during an outage. Now, I can also earn money by sending energy directly to the grid.”
Bill Crider, senior director of global charging and energy services at Ford Motor Company, added:
“Educating customers that their electric vehicles have the potential to save—and even earn—them money all while parked at home is a game-changer. Enabling customers to not only power their homes, but send power directly back to the grid in times of need helps customers with financial incentives, utilities with more power capacity, and society through more grid reliability and sustainable energy practices. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
