California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 27 signed into law a bill that would authorize the California Energy Commission to require any weight class of battery electric vehicle to be bidirectional-capable if it determines there is a sufficiently compelling beneficial bidirectional-capable use case to the BEV operator and electric grid.
He signed into law Senate Bill 59, sponsored by State Senator Nancy Skinner.
The new law directs the CEC to work in consultation with the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Air Resources Board.
Bidirectional capabilities in BEVs have the potential to improve customer energy reliability, resiliency and demand management during electric grid stress events, while supporting our state's transition to zero-emission transportation, Newsom said in a signing message.
“Achieving these outcomes requires close technical alignment between the BEV and bidirectional charging equipment that must also factor in vehicle standards generally, as well as electric rates and potential electric grid effects.”
Newsom said that “given the technical complexities of bidirectional charging with BEVs, and the relationship between such standards and vehicle standards already set by CARB, I am directing the CEC to lean on the experience of the CPUC and CARB should it promulgate regulations pursuant to this bill to advance bidirectional capable EVs.”
