The school bus is an excellent candidate for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology. Patricia Hidalgo-Gonzalez from UC San Diego’s Renewable Energy and Advanced Mathematics Lab, who specializes in grid studies, highlights the benefit of the clear and consistent transportation schedule of school buses. Zum’s buses, which operate on a strict timetable, are able to take advantage of surplus solar energy by recharging during school hours and returning excess power to the grid when not in use.
Zum’s buses have large batteries, capable of storing significant amounts of energy, and are only used for short distances, leaving plenty of battery capacity at the end of the day. By strategically recharging during off-peak hours and sending surplus power back to the grid during peak demand times, the buses are able to maximize their battery usage and contribute to grid stability.
The EPA’s Clean School Bus Program is providing funding for the replacement of gas-powered school buses with zero-emission alternatives, like electric buses. While the upfront cost of electric buses is higher, V2G technology allows school districts to offset this cost by trading excess battery power as energy back to the grid during peak hours.
Zum has partnered with Pacific Gas and Electric for a pilot project in Oakland schools to test the practical application of V2G technology. PG&E is implementing a flexible system where participants pay dynamic rates for energy use and are compensated based on the same rates for energy sent back to the grid. This pilot project, involving a fleet of 74 buses with potential for expansion, aims to demonstrate the scalability and impact of V2G technology in the transportation sector.
