ChargeScape, the automotive joint venture focused on electric vehicle-grid integration, and Nissan, on Sept. 9 announced the launch of a new vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot in the utility territory covered by California public power utility Silicon Valley Power.
This pilot is possible through the California Energy Commission’s Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) program Option 3.
“Silicon Valley Power is committed to exploring innovative solutions that keep our community powered reliably and affordably,” said Nico Procos, Electric Utility Director of Silicon Valley Power. “This pilot demonstrates how collaboration with industry leaders like Nissan and ChargeScape can help to strengthen grid reliability, support local businesses, and benefit our customers.”
Silicon Valley is one of the world’s data center hotspots. The rise of AI has caused a surge in electricity demand coming from data centers, which many power grids were not designed to withstand, a news release noted.
“Forward-thinking utilities such as Silicon Valley Power are seeking innovative ways to quickly increase power supply to meet this new demand, in order to ensure grid reliability for all customers,” the news release added.
At Nissan’s Advanced Technology Center in Silicon Valley, this pilot will use energy stored in EV batteries from Nissan electric vehicles, managed by Fermata Energy’s bidirectional chargers, to export power during periods of grid strain. ChargeScape will coordinate with market partner Leap to discharge power from Nissan vehicles and free up supply for data center loads.
The pilot is part of ChargeScape and Leap’s broader California Virtual Power Plant.
“Through this collaboration, we’re showcasing how electric vehicles can reinforce our communities’ electrical needs and deliver meaningful benefits to drivers,” said Rich Miller, Vice President of Vehicle Connected Services at Nissan U.S.
“AI is a fundamental component of American Dynamism, and our nation’s power grids must quickly adapt to supply data centers with the energy needed to maintain America’s competitive edge in places like Silicon Valley,” said Joseph Vellone, CEO of ChargeScape. “Integrating Nissan’s EV batteries into Silicon Valley Power’s grid is a crucial first step to shoring up long-term grid reliability and rewarding the EV drivers who are part of the solution.”
“At Fermata Energy, we are demonstrating how AI-enabled V2X optimization can transform electric vehicles into intelligent grid resources,” said Hamza Lemsaddek, Chief Operating Officer of Fermata Energy. “By pairing our platform with bidirectional chargers at Nissan’s Innovation Lab, we’re proving that EVs can strengthen data center reliability, support utilities like Silicon Valley Power, and deliver real economic value back to drivers and communities.”
“Our work with ChargeScape has shown the powerful potential of harnessing the EVs already on the road today to tackle urgent grid reliability challenges,” said Jason Michaels, CEO of Leap. “Activating these vehicles as flexible, dispatchable grid resources is a game-changing tool to help utilities manage higher loads and unlock economic growth while putting dollars back in the hands of ratepayers. We look forward to expanding our partnership with ChargeScape to serve more communities.”
The pilot is part of ChargeScape’s mission to accelerate vehicle-grid integration and will lay the groundwork for other V2G programs across California and other U.S. states. Through this and other ChargeScape programs, participating EV drivers will earn money for helping the power grid, a mechanism the company believes will help make EVs more affordable in the long run.
