November 10, 2026

Held October 27–29 at the American Center for Mobility, the eighth annual V2G Forum brought together automakers, utilities, charging providers, aggregators, national laboratories, policymakers, and researchers. I participated in several sessions, including moderating a panel examining the relationship between vehicle-grid integration (VGI) and energy affordability.

After three days of presentations and conversations, several developments stood out: a collaborative demonstration of standards-based V2G interoperability, new approaches to reducing bidirectional charging costs, and practical lessons from operating V2G projects. Equally interesting were the discussions about how utilities, regulators, and industry participants are addressing the technical and institutional requirements for integrating EVs into electricity systems.

November 10, 2026

Signer, T., et al. (2026). Two decades of vehicle-to-grid research show widely divergent profitability estimates. Advances in Applied Energy, 24, 100306.

Two decades of research suggest that vehicle-to-grid (V2G) can generate positive economic returns, but there is remarkably little agreement on how much. A new peer-reviewed analysis of 86 studies finds a median estimated annual profit of €201 per vehicle, with 86% of studies reporting positive median outcomes. Behind these headline figures, however, lies substantial variation in electricity market conditions, participation arrangements, cost assumptions, and the types of financial benefits being measured.

Published in Advances in Applied Energy, the study examines 680 economic outcomes from research conducted between 2000 and 2026. Most of the underlying research focuses on V2G participation in wholesale electricity and balancing markets, rather than compensation through utility-administered programs. This distinction is important for understanding what the findings mean for EV owners, particularly in the United States, where opportunities to earn compensation for bidirectional charging remain limited.

Ford Motor Company has announced that its new Fathom electric pickup truck, scheduled to launch in 2027 with a starting price of $28,350, will offer AC bidirectional charging capable of delivering more than 10 kW of power to a home. Unlike conventional DC bidirectional charging systems that require an external inverter, the Fathom incorporates the inverter directly into the vehicle's E-box, eliminating a major source of equipment cost and complexity. Ford estimates that its new Home Power Station will cost approximately 50% less than its first-generation bidirectional charger, while the additional equipment required for home backup power will cost at least 60% less than its previous system. The technology will allow customers to charge their vehicles when electricity prices are low and power their homes during higher-priced periods, as well as provide backup electricity during outages. Importantly, Ford is incorporating the SAE J3068 standard and LIN-CP communications protocol, technologies recently demonstrated by University of Delaware researchers, to support lower-cost AC bidirectional charging.

Beyond the vehicle announcement, Ford is working with utilities to address another major obstacle to widespread bidirectional charging deployment: interconnection requirements. Ford says the system is being designed to meet applicable UL 1741 requirements and IEEE 1547 interconnection standards, enabling grid-parallel operation. The company has also convened a utility working group advocating streamlined interconnection procedures, including eliminating interconnection requirements for vehicles used exclusively for charging or isolated backup power and updating utility rules to recognize both AC and DC bidirectional charging technologies. While Ford's initial emphasis is on vehicle-to-home applications, these technical and regulatory developments could establish an important foundation for future V2G participation in utility programs and virtual power plants. The significance extends well beyond one new electric truck: Ford is combining a mass-market EV, lower-cost AC bidirectional charging hardware, standardized communications, and utility engagement in an effort to make bidirectional charging accessible at scale.

10/27/2026

The Connecticut Green Bank has closed $11.3 million in financing with Zum Services to support 46 electric school buses, 49 bidirectional chargers, and associated infrastructure for Branford Public Schools. The fleet, which began transporting students during the 2026–2027 school year, is Connecticut's first fully electric school bus fleet and is expected to provide up to 1.8 MW of V2G capacity. The financing combines grants and low-cost loans to support deployment. The project comes as Connecticut prepares to allow commercial bidirectional charging systems to participate in its Energy Storage Solutions Program beginning in 2027, potentially creating an opportunity for the fleet to earn compensation for grid services. While the buses are already in service, V2G operations remain a future opportunity.

11/6/2026

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on November 6 that the company plans to wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas factory by mid-2027 to make room for increased Cybercab production. The announcement is notable for the V2G industry because Cybertruck is currently Tesla's only vehicle offering grid-export capabilities through its Powershare Grid Support program, available in limited markets in California and Texas. Tesla recently extended bidirectional charging capabilities to newly equipped Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, although these currently support vehicle-to-home (V2H) backup through compatible Powerwall systems rather than grid exports. The addition of bidirectional hardware to Tesla's high-volume models creates a potential pathway for broader V2G deployment, but Tesla has not announced plans to enable that functionality. The future of Tesla's V2G offerings therefore remains uncertain as the company shifts production priorities.

11/6/2026

A new Microgrid Knowledge report examines how vehicle-to-grid technology could improve the economics of electric school buses by creating additional revenue streams for school districts. The article highlights the recently announced deployment of six electric school buses and bidirectional chargers at Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado, supported by $3.4 million in funding from Xcel Energy. It also examines the larger Oakland Unified School District project, where Zum and Tellus Power have deployed 74 electric school buses with bidirectional charging stations. According to Tellus Power, the Oakland fleet can provide approximately 2.5–2.7 MW of dispatchable capacity, demonstrating how school bus batteries can serve as grid resources when vehicles are not transporting students. Xcel Energy aims to support a total of 38 electric school buses and 30 bidirectional chargers across Colorado through its Electric School Bus Program. While the article highlights the potential for V2G revenues to help offset electrification costs, actual financial returns will depend on utility compensation structures, dispatch opportunities, and operating requirements.

10/28/2026

The UK government is considering introducing incentives under its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate that would reward automakers for equipping new electric vehicles with vehicle-to-grid capabilities. The proposal could allow manufacturers to earn additional compliance credits for selling V2G-capable vehicles, creating a potentially powerful incentive to make bidirectional charging standard equipment. The initiative comes as the UK explores opportunities to use EV batteries to support electricity system flexibility, reduce reliance on fossil-fuel generation, and lower energy costs. The National Energy System Operator estimates that V2G could provide 1.2 GW of grid capacity by 2030 and as much as 41 GW by 2050. However, the proposal has drawn criticism from environmental and EV advocacy organizations concerned that additional credits could weaken existing ZEV sales requirements without guaranteeing that V2G-equipped vehicles actually participate in grid services. The government has not made a final decision, but the proposal raises an important question about whether V2G policy should incentivize vehicle capability, actual grid participation, or both.

10/26/2026

A new analysis by the Becquerel Institute estimates that Europe's approximately 10 million electric vehicles collectively represent at least 500 GWh of battery storage capacity, potentially reaching 1 TWh in 2027. Published in pv magazine, the analysis argues that bidirectional charging could transform this rapidly expanding battery fleet into a significant source of grid flexibility, complementing stationary storage and supporting renewable energy integration. The authors highlight recent commercial V2G offerings from Mercedes-Benz and Renault as evidence of market progress, while emphasizing that appropriate compensation, market access, and supportive regulations will be essential to unlock this potential. The analysis also cautions that revenues from traditional battery grid services may decline as storage deployment increases, reinforcing the importance of developing additional value streams for distributed resources.

10/27/2026

MAN Truck & Bus has demonstrated the potential of heavy-duty electric trucks to provide grid services through the German SPIRIT-E research project. Using a MAN eTGX electric truck equipped with a 480 kWh usable battery, researchers demonstrated bidirectional charging at power levels of up to 350 kW, including vehicle-to-grid (V2G), vehicle-to-storage (V2S), and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) applications. The project implemented ISO 15118-20 communications and evaluated opportunities to reduce fleet energy costs through flexible charging and discharging. Simulated electricity trading scenarios indicated potential average energy cost savings of approximately 10%. The findings highlight the potential for electric truck fleets to provide substantial grid flexibility while identifying technical and commercial challenges that must be addressed before widespread deployment.

10/30/2026

The China Society of Automotive Engineers has identified vehicle-to-grid technology as one of the country's ten most important automotive technology trends for 2027. Announced during the Society's annual congress in Suzhou, the assessment anticipates that V2G could provide reverse power regulation capacity on the order of millions of kilowatts daily as deployment expands. The technology was recognized alongside advances in solid-state batteries, vehicle electronics, autonomous driving, and advanced manufacturing. China's inclusion of V2G among its leading automotive technology priorities reflects growing interest in integrating electric vehicles into the country's rapidly expanding electricity system. The announcement is particularly noteworthy given China's extensive government-supported V2G demonstration activities and its position as the world's largest electric vehicle market. However, the projected capacity represents an industry outlook rather than a verified operating level or binding deployment target.

10/29/2026