Energy
Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 3:41 pm EDT
Key Points
- Zum partners with the Oakland Unified School District to implement bidirectional charging of electric school buses, marking the first full-electric school district in the U.S. and pioneering V2G (vehicle-to-grid) technology.
- This initiative aims to leverage electric buses to send stored battery power back to the California utility grid, potentially transferring 2.1 gigawatt hours of energy annually, with plans to expand to 10,000 bidirectional EV school buses nationwide.
- The concept capitalizes on the idle periods of school buses, allowing owners to charge during low-demand hours and sell excess battery power back to the grid during peak demand, creating an energy arbitrage opportunity that aligns with grid demand patterns and economic value.
Zum, a provider of student transportation services, is teaming up with the Oakland Unified School District to introduce a groundbreaking initiative involving the bidirectional charging of electric school buses. This partnership marks a significant step forward in sustainable transportation solutions, as Oakland becomes the first U.S. school district to transition entirely to electric buses and test the concept of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging. Through this innovative approach, electric buses will not only receive power but also contribute energy back to the California utility grid using Zum’s charging infrastructure. Zum estimates that annually, 2.1 gigawatt hours of energy can be transferred from batteries to the grid, with plans to expand this initiative to include 10,000 bidirectional EV school buses nationwide, potentially providing 300 gigawatt hours of energy annually. Despite the existence of pilot programs testing V2G models in various regions, Zum advocates for scaling up sustainability solutions like this one, emphasizing the need to move beyond experimental phases. By converting the entire Oakland Unified school bus fleet to electric with VPP (virtual power plant) capability, Zum aims to pave the way for broader adoption of eco-friendly transport solutions. The concept leverages the fact that school buses remain idle during peak energy demand hours, allowing for strategic energy trading: charging during off-peak hours and selling excess battery power back to the grid when demand—and therefore prices—are higher. While Zum will reap the benefits of revenue from grid deals in cases where they own the buses, school districts that own the buses themselves can also generate revenue through power sales, potentially sharing the profits. Although this model faces challenges such as establishing predetermined rate schedules with utilities and ensuring seamless hardware and software integration, it holds immense promise in leveraging EV battery storage for grid support. Unlike rooftop solar systems, which have faced criticism for feeding excess power back into the grid at less crucial times, the school bus model aligns with grid demand patterns, optimizing energy use and economic value. With its ability to recharge during low-demand periods and discharge when needed, the school bus model emerges as a practical and scalable solution for utilizing stored power in EV batteries to support energy needs efficiently and sustainably.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/15/half-million-school-buses-in-us-could-be-an-ev-powerhouse-feeding-grid.html
