Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has expanded its Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) program with additional electric vehicles (EVs) and bidirectional charging systems.
The expansion adds Bidirectional Energy and PowerFlex as approved technology partners and increases the number of vehicle-charger combinations available for residential V2X applications.
Bidirectional charging allows energy stored in an EV battery to flow back through compatible charging equipment. Depending on the system configuration, that energy can be used to supply a home during an outage or returned to the electrical grid.
The newly approved combinations include the Nissan Leaf, Volvo EX90, and Polestar 3 with the dcbel Ara bidirectional charger. The Kia EV9 and EV6 can participate using the Wallbox Quasar 2.
PG&E has also added several General Motors EVs to the program, including the Chevrolet Bolt, Cadillac Celestiq, and Cadillac Escalade IQL. Vehicle and charger capabilities vary by combination.
The expanded program provides another real-world test of interoperability between EV batteries and bidirectional charging hardware. Each supported combination must coordinate power flow between the vehicle and external electrical system while maintaining the control functions required for residential or grid-connected operation.
PG&E is also using bidirectional charging in commercial applications, including electric school bus fleets. For commercial installations, the program includes three-phase bidirectional chargers both below and above 50 kW.
The program now covers a broader range of EV and charger combinations as utilities evaluate how vehicle batteries can operate as distributed energy resources alongside conventional charging infrastructure.
Filed Under: Charging, Technology News, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)