The Ford Charge Station Pro & Home Integration System is the first equipment set eligible for participation in PG&E’s residential vehicle-to-everything (V2X) pilot program.

PG&E will allow the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning (model years 2022 or 2023) to use its bidirectional EV charger to push power into the home in backup power applications. This vehicle-to-home (V2H) capability is the first part of the pilot program for the utility, with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) testing to launch in the second half of 2024.

The pilot is open to up to 1,000 residential customers in PG&E service area who will receive at least $2,500 for enrolling, and up to an additional $2,175 in participation-based incentives.

Through the pilot, PG&E is working with automakers, such as Ford, GM and BMW, and EV charging suppliers to explore how light-duty, passenger EVs at single-family homes can help customers and the electric grid in various ways. These include providing backup power to the home if the power is out, optimizing EV charging and discharging to integrate more renewable resources and help customers reduce overall power usage, and aligning EV charging and discharging with the real-time cost of energy procurement, helping customers save money and reduce energy costs.

“Our goal is to create the most robust vehicle-grid-integration portfolio in the world,” said Mike Delaney, VP of Utility Partnerships and Innovation, PG&E. “At PG&E we are accelerating clean energy innovation and providing the platform, expertise, and cross-industry leadership to enable our customers with a range of options that unleash the full potential of their electric vehicles.”

With hundreds of Ford Intelligent Backup Power systems now installed across the country, including dozens in California with more coming every week, Ford and PG&E look to advance the technology with customers in Northern and Central California.

“The battery and connectivity features in our electric vehicles are bringing forward opportunities never before possible with gas powered vehicles, creating new ways to save money, support the electric grid and drive toward lower-carbon charging,” said Bill Crider, senior director of global charging and energy services, Ford Motor Company. “Our growing collaboration with PG&E is another strong example of providing customers with better EV ownership experiences, while also supporting our shared grid and sustainability aspirations.”

Ford has joined forces with BMW and Honda to create ChargeScape, a new co-owned company that will create a single, cost-effective platform connecting electric utilities, automakers and interested electric vehicle customers — a form of virtual power plant (VPP).

News item from PG&E