EVs Empowering Customers
and the Grid

Toyota EV

A Collaborative Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Pilot

SDG&E® and Toyota, in collaboration with Fermata Energy, are testing the potential of bidirectional energy flow between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and the electric grid. Announced in November 2023, this pilot is hosted at SDG&E’s Resiliency Center, where an on-campus Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging area has been developed. Charging and discharging testing commenced in 2024.

The pilot uses a Toyota bZ4X paired with Fermata Energy’s intelligent Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) platform and FE-20 bidirectional charger to demonstrate the viability of V2G technology, exploring potential benefits for customers. Through this collaboration, the goal is to collect data on bidirectional charging, customer experience, and infrastructure needs while advancing V2G technology.

Pilot Goals

This collaboration aims to enhance V2G research for BEVs and explore several key objectives:

  • Identify current and future potential customer benefits, such as reducing energy costs, generating revenue, and providing backup power.
  • Develop strategies to communicate the advantages of bidirectional capabilities to BEV owners.
  • Understand the infrastructure needed to support the rapid growth of EV charging in both public and private settings.
  • Help stabilize the power grid during peak hours by integrating BEVs as grid assets.
  • Test the participation of V2G in SDG&E’s new Dynamic Export Rate Pilot.

The insights gained will inform future scalable business models focused on interconnection, rate design, export compensation, and customer experience.

Understanding V2X Technology

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology enables bidirectional energy flow between parked BEVs and other infrastructure, such as the grid, buildings, and homes. This pilot program also examines Vehicle-Grid Integration (VGI) solutions, including:

  • Managed Charging: Ability to control EV charging timing to help avoid peak loads, reduce energy bills, and balance grid demand.
  • Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): Enable EVs to power homes during outages, optimize energy use and reduce costs.
  • Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G): Allow parked BEVs to send energy back to the grid during peak demand, potentially earning revenue for owners.

Participation in V2G requires a Rule 21 agreement, an export-compatible pricing plan (such as SDG&E’s Dynamic Export Pilot Rate), a bidirectional-capable BEV, and an approved charger like the Fermata Energy FE-20. Bidirectional BEV options are currently limited and are primarily new models.

Unlocking the Potential of V2G

This pilot explores various use cases for bidirectional charging, including:

  1. Reducing Electricity Costs: How customers can discharge energy from BEVs to lower bills.
  2. Generating Revenue: How customers can sell surplus electricity to the grid, creating a new income stream.
  3. Providing Backup Power: How BEVs can power homes or businesses during outages or extreme weather.
  4. Decarbonizing Transportation and the Grid: How using renewable energy during charging and discharging can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Stakeholders and Technology Providers

  • Toyota: Supplying the V2G-enabled bZ4X.
  • SDG&E: Overseeing the test site, infrastructure, and vehicle-grid integration.
  • Fermata Energy: Providing the V2X platform and FE-20 bidirectional charger.

Looking Ahead

As the pilot progresses, SDG&E, Fermata Energy, and Toyota will collect data to refine V2G applications and customer experiences, paving the way for residential and commercial adoption. By exploring the intersection of transportation and energy infrastructure, this collaboration highlights how BEVs can play a critical role in advancing grid resilience and decarbonization.

Stay tuned for more updates as we move toward a future where BEVs can help reshape the energy landscape. For more details, read the initial press release.