Pilot aimed at testing bidirectional charging technology to increase energy optimization for customers and support the grid
ComEd today announced the start of its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging pilot's testing phase with three Illinois school districts. The V2G charging pilot is the first of its kind in northern Illinois and will evaluate the technology that could enable bidirectional charging with electric school buses to enhance energy optimization, support grid stability and create new ways for customers to potentially lower their energy usage during peak demand times.
"V2G is the next frontier in our work to develop clean energy programs that support our customers in lowering emissions and costs, while also finding strategies to strengthen and support the grid to accommodate growing power demand," said Melissa Washington, SVP of Government Relations and External Affairs for ComEd. "Working in partnership with local school districts and our vendors, our latest pilot will help expand the cost-saving and environmental benefits of electric buses while testing ways to make energy storage scalable to support growing needs of our communities."
ComEd began V2G testing recently with River Trails, Troy and Wauconda School Districts. ComEd will leverage data collected from these advanced, bidirectional chargers to examine the technology that could unleash the possibility of discharging energy stored in electric school buses safely and effectively back to the grid. Bidirectional charging could allow school districts in the future to reduce their load during peak energy demand periods, helping customers lower both energy usage and costs.
"As one of the early adopters of electric buses in Illinois, we've faced our share of challenges over the past three years. We're hopeful that, with the continued support of the ComEd and Nuvve teams, we are finally turning a corner toward realizing the full potential of our electric bus program," said Rick Strauss, director of transportation, Wauconda CUSD 118.
"Troy CCSD 30-C is proud to partner with ComEd on this innovative Vehicle-to-Grid pilot. Our district is committed to pursuing sustainable solutions that enhance student learning and transportation while safeguarding taxpayer resources," said Ben Hettel, executive director of operations, Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C. "By helping advance vehicle-to-grid technology, we are investing in strategies that will deliver long-term benefits for our district and the stakeholders we serve."
The V2G pilot is one of eight pilots outlined in ComEd's multiyear Beneficial Electrification (BE) Plan. The BE plan was first approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2023, delivering on a requirement set forward by the state of Illinois' Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which includes a goal of reaching 1 million EVs on the roads by 2030. Additionally, the BE Plan sets forward a number of customer EV rebates designed to offset the costs of expanding electric fleets and charging infrastructure. ComEd announced its recently approved second BE plan, which continues investments started as part of BE Plan 1 and prioritizes funding for V2G as part of its BE Research and Development Program for the years 2026-2028.
ComEd worked with Resource Innovations and charging vendor Nuvve, a global leader in V2G technology, to identify pilot participants and test V2G capabilities utilizing electric school buses. Each of the three school districts were Nuvve charging customers with a V2G capable electric school bus and charger prior to the start of the pilot, making them ideal participants for this study.
"Earlier this year we partnered with ComEd to launch this first-of-its-kind V2G pilot, and today we are proud to see it move into active testing," said Hamza Lemsaddek, Chief Operating Officer, Fermata Energy — a Nuvve Company. "Together with River Trails, Troy, and Wauconda school districts, we are showing how electric school buses can lower operating costs for schools, provide real support to the grid during peak demand, and create a scalable model for communities across Illinois. Looking ahead, we see applications that extend beyond school fleets to other customer segments, turning parked EVs into flexible, reliable energy resources."
"Our team of engineers, advisors, and program managers have a commitment to helping utility partners implement new technologies. We really claim the ‘innovation' part of our name," said Chris Crockett, the Principal of Transportation Electrification at Resource Innovations. "Electric school buses provide many benefits, but our team approaches this pilot with the unbiased lens needed to ensure V2G technology is providing the benefits we believe it will. We won't be satisfied unless this technology is a win-win for everyone."
ComEd is seeking input from other Illinois school districts to better understand how future V2G opportunities could support their needs. School districts can share their interest in participating in future V2G studies and share their experience with electric school buses by submitting to this Interest Form. As the pilot progresses, ComEd's pilot team will host informational webinars and surveys to explain V2G technology for other interested parties.
ComEd's Beneficial Electrification Plan has helped fund the expansion of fleet EVs and EV charging projects in over 340 zip codes across Illinois, with rebates awarded to offset the purchase or lease of more than 1,800 fleet EVs, of which nearly 1,500 are medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including school buses. Support for electric school buses is a key component of ComEd's BE Plan. ComEd engages regularly with key electric school bus stakeholders, recently launching a new educational webpage tailored for schools looking to electrify their fleet and offers free fleet electrification and capacity assessments. Interested school districts can contact ComEd at SchoolsEV@comed.com.
To learn more about ComEd's EV programs or to apply for a variety of EV rebates, visit comed.com/EV.
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ:EXC), a Fortune 200 company and one of the nation's largest utility companies, serving more than 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
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