Photo credit: www.renewableenergyworld.com

EnergyHub and GM Energy Team Up for EV Integration

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies are increasingly gaining traction at a crucial moment for the energy sector.

EnergyHub, a prominent player in grid-edge flexibility solutions, has revealed an exciting partnership with GM Energy, the energy division of General Motors. This collaboration aims to incorporate GM’s electric vehicles (EVs) and home energy storage solutions into EnergyHub’s extensive network of utility and market programs across the United States.

This initiative will allow qualifying owners of Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac EVs, as well as users of the GM Energy PowerBank stationary storage system, to participate in utility programs managed by EnergyHub. Participants can earn financial incentives while contributing to enhanced grid reliability and reduced energy costs within their communities. Furthermore, the integration will facilitate smart or managed charging, optimizing the charging schedules to support overall and distribution grid stability while accommodating the mobility needs of customers.

Commencing later this year, eligible owners of the listed GM vehicles will have the opportunity to enroll in specific programs through their local utility.

EnergyHub’s EV-managed charging programs are enabled via the company’s edge Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) platform. These programs are designed to help utilities maintain grid stability by implementing demand response strategies and managing dynamic loads. They also ensure that the integration of EVs and other distributed energy resources (DERs) does not overwhelm local distribution networks.

“This partnership with GM marks a significant advancement in expanding the effectiveness of our utility clients’ EV and storage initiatives,” noted Jeff Huron, senior manager of EV strategy and business development at EnergyHub. “By collaborating directly with automakers like GM, we aim to enhance the customer experience while preparing utilities for the growing demand associated with electric vehicles and distributed energy resources.”

Recently, EnergyHub published a white paper discussing the implications of transportation electrification on the grid. The report highlights how managed charging can transform EVs from challenges into valuable assets. You can read it here.

In the previous month, EnergyHub partnered with Ameren Illinois, a utility that provides services to 1.2 million electric customers in central and southern Illinois. Together, they launched new residential and commercial EV managed charging pilots. These initiatives aim to expand access to managed charging capabilities, allowing Ameren Illinois to coordinate EV charging during off-peak hours or when wholesale energy prices are elevated. Participants in these programs will receive incentives in exchange for permitting the utility to regulate their vehicle charging schedules, with assurances that the vehicles will be charged to their desired level by a specified time. Drivers also retain the flexibility to override the set schedule at their discretion.

In 2023, EnergyHub received a grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) intended to facilitate the enrollment of various types of distributed energy resources, including thermostats, EVs, and batteries, into virtual power plants (VPPs). This $1.5 million initiative, which commenced in June 2024, seeks to register up to 7,000 new participating devices, focusing particularly on low- and moderate-income households. Owners may engage in the program through their electric utility, provided it is available, or they can enroll directly with EnergyHub if their utility does not offer such options. EnergyHub’s DERMS will be leveraged to aggregate the registered devices into VPPs, which can then be integrated into the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) market through a partnership with Leap.

In March 2024, EnergyHub also announced a collaboration with Toyota and Lexus, mirroring their agreement with GM. Utility customers engaged with EnergyHub will be able to access various EV programs based on their vehicle’s specifications. These offerings include managed charging, vehicle-to-grid capabilities, EV-specific time-of-use rates, off-peak rebates, and data programs designed to enhance infrastructure planning. This allows EV owners to benefit from rebates that can offset the costs of eligible EV charging equipment installation and incentivize them to adjust their charging behaviors according to both systemic and localized grid constraints.

Source
www.renewableenergyworld.com