The California Energy Commission (CEC) has awarded Brooklyn-based company it’s electric $1.1 million to develop, certify, and commercialize what is expected to be the world’s first curbside vehicle-to-grid (V2G) EV charger.
The award is part of the Enabling Electric Vehicles as Distributed Energy Resources grant under California’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Program, which supports emerging technologies that strengthen the state’s energy system and advance climate goals.
In partnership with the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Delaware, the company plans to demonstrate and bring the technology to market by 2028.
Unlike conventional chargers that only draw electricity from the grid, the curbside V2G charger will also allow energy to flow back from EVs into the grid. This capability, not yet available in public curbside formats where millions of cars are parked daily, could provide significant benefits for grid reliability, demand management, and emissions reduction.
The project includes the development of the J3068 Active Cable with the University of Delaware. This cable combines SAE’s untethered charging standard with the university’s Active Cable Communication Module, enabling bi-directional charging while linking driver account information for interoperability across charging systems.
“Vehicle electrification is about both cleaner transportation and a strong grid. This project helps unlock the potential of EVs to provide load flexibility, support reliability, and reduce peak demand,” said Commissioner Andrew McCallister, who leads the CEC’s Research and Development division. Commissioner Nancy Skinner added, “I’m very pleased the California Energy Commission is funding innovations that will enable EV batteries to support our grid, power buildings, and more. This project will help demonstrate the economic and resiliency benefits of V2G technology.”
V2G systems allow EV batteries to act as distributed energy resources, creating large-scale flexible storage. Benefits include reducing stress on the grid during peak demand, lowering the need for costly infrastructure upgrades, and giving EV owners new opportunities to participate in energy markets.
At scale, curbside V2G chargers could allow everyday parked vehicles to play a role in balancing the grid, contributing to California’s climate and clean energy targets while expanding equitable access to advanced charging technologies.
Filed Under: Charging, Technology News, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)