ComEd has launched the testing phase of its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging pilot with three Illinois school districts. The program is the first of its kind in northern Illinois and will evaluate bidirectional charging technology using electric school buses.
The goal is to better understand how these systems can support grid stability, optimize energy use, and reduce demand during peak periods.
The pilot involves River Trails, Troy, and Wauconda School Districts, each already equipped with a V2G-capable electric school bus and charger.
By collecting data on charging and discharging activity, ComEd will assess how energy stored in school bus batteries can be safely returned to the grid. In the future, this could enable school districts to reduce their own peak loads while providing a distributed energy resource to the wider system.
V2G technology allows parked electric vehicles to operate as mobile energy storage, offering flexibility that could lower operating costs and help utilities balance demand. In addition to school buses, the technology has potential applications across other fleet and customer segments.
The pilot is part of ComEd’s multiyear Beneficial Electrification (BE) Plan, approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission under the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The BE Plan includes a target of one million EVs on Illinois roads by 2030 and supports rebates for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Funding for V2G development is prioritized under ComEd’s BE Research and Development Program for 2026–2028.
ComEd is collaborating with Resource Innovations and V2G charging vendor Nuvve to conduct the study. Data from this testing will help determine how bidirectional charging can be scaled to benefit both school districts and the regional grid.
ComEd is inviting other Illinois school districts to share interest in participating in future V2G studies. As the pilot advances, informational webinars and surveys will be hosted to explain technical aspects of the program and gather feedback.
Filed Under: Technology News, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)