By turning EVs into grid assets, curbside vehicle-to-grid technology will play a key role in advancing California's climate goals
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has awarded UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies Acting Director Scott Moura, University of Delaware, and Brooklyn-based EV charging company it's electric $1.1 million to develop, certify, and commercialize the world's first curbside vehicle-to-grid EV charger.
"This project will advance our ability to leverage vehicle-to-grid capabilities for grid stability, helping to create more resilient and efficient infrastructure in California," says Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Scott Moura, Director of eCAL and Acting Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies.
Moura and his lab, Energy, Controls, and Applications Laboratory (eCAL), will be hosting product deployment and managing testing of the bidirectional curbside charger at UC Berkeley's Richmond Field Station.
The award comes through the Enabling Electric Vehicles as Distributed Energy Resources grant, part of California's Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Program, which invests in breakthrough technologies to strengthen the state's energy system and meet its ambitious climate goals. In partnership with the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Delaware, it's electric will bring the technology to market by 2028.
"Very pleased the California Energy Commission is funding innovations that will enable EV batteries to support our grid, power buildings and more," said Commissioner Nancy Skinner. "it's electric's impressive project will pilot EV chargers that can not only power a car but also help that car power our grid, demonstrating the economic and resiliency benefits of V2G technology."
Unlike traditional chargers, which only pull electricity from the grid to charge a car, it's electric's new charger will also be able to push energy back from the EV directly to the grid. This has never before been possible in a curbside format, where millions of cars are parked every day.
"We have absolute conviction that bi-directional capability is a prerequisite for sustained long term public EV charging deployment," said Nathan King, Co-Founder and CEO of it's electric. "Seven million light duty vehicles are routinely parked on city streets in California. As these vehicles convert to electric, their batteries have enormous potential to help offset peak demand in critically overstrained electric utility service areas. And as a matter of equity, all EV drivers should have equal opportunity to participate in EV charging demand-response programs and V2G energy arbitrage opportunities."
California is leading the way in bi-directional curbside EV charging with the development and demonstration of this first-of-its-kind hardware. Visually identical to it's electric's current award winning design, this next generation of chargers will expand equitable access to vehicle-to-grid technology in low-income and disadvantaged communities, helping to accelerate EV adoption and reduce emissions in line with the state's climate targets.
"Vehicle electrification is about both cleaner transportation and a strong grid. This project helps unlock the full potential of EVs to provide load flexibility, support electric system reliability, and reduce peak demand," said Commissioner Andrew McCallister, who leads the Commission's Research and Development division. "These are exactly the kinds of innovations California needs to build a more resilient and sustainable energy system."
The project will also develop a second innovative technology: the J3068 Active Cable, created with the University of Delaware. This first-of-its-kind cable integrates the SAE-standard untethered charging format with Delaware's Active Cable Communication Module, enabling bi-directional charging while seamlessly associating driver account information with the cable for reliable compatibility across a wide range of charging systems.
"The University of Delaware is proud of the role we have played to date in bringing vehicle-to-grid technologies to market," said Professor Willett Kempton. "We applaud the California Energy Commission for investing in this project, which will advance the ability of all communities to take advantage of V2G opportunities."
At scale, curbside V2G chargers will allow cars that park on the street to function as distributed energy resources, delivering benefits to both EV owners and grid operators. By enabling large-scale distributed energy storage, the technology can help mitigate peak demand growth and reduce the need for costly grid infrastructure upgrades.
With the support of the California Energy Commission, it's electric. UC Berkeley, and University of Delaware are pioneering the next era of EV charging infrastructure. By combining rapid curbside deployment with groundbreaking vehicle-to-grid technology, this project demonstrates how innovation can be scaled quickly and equitably across communities. The world's first curbside vehicle-to-grid chargers will not only accelerate EV adoption but also strengthen California's energy resilience, paving the way for cities everywhere to embrace a cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable energy future.
To learn more about eCAL, please visithttps://ecal-ucb.github.io/ecal_website/index.html
To learn more about it's electric, please visit https://www.itselectric.us.
To learn more about CEC, please visit: https://www.energy.ca.gov