GM, PG&E to test EVs as backup power sources

In a recent press release, General Motors (GM) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced a breakthrough collaboration to test GM electric vehicles (EV) as on-demand power sources for homes in PG&E’s service area.

Both companies will trial GM vehicles equipped with bi-directional charging technology to safely power the essential needs of a properly equipped home.

According to GM, EVs play a critical role in achieving California’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and already provide customers with many benefits. Bidirectional charging capabilities add even further value by improving electric resiliency and reliability.

“GM’s collaboration with PG&E further expands our electrification strategy, demonstrating our EVs as reliable mobile sources of power. Our teams are working to rapidly scale this pilot and bring bi-directional charging technology to our customers,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra.

GM said that the pilot will begin this summer (from June to September) and will include bi-directional hardware paired with software-defined communications protocols. Together, these technologies will allow the EVs to power a customer’s home automatically coordinating between the EV, home, and PG&E’s electric supply.

A vehicle-to-home interconnection test will also be conducted, which will see a small number of homes safely receive power from their EVs after power stops flowing from the electric grid.

Both companies are working quickly to scale the test with the goal of opening larger customer trials by the end of 2022.

“We are really excited about this innovative collaboration with GM. Imagine a future where everyone is driving an electric vehicle — and where that EV serves as a backup power option at home and more broadly as a resource for the grid. Not only is this a huge advancement for electric reliability and climate resiliency, it’s yet another advantage of clean-powered EVs, which are so important in our collective battle against climate change,” said PG&E Corporation CEO Patti Poppe.

Photos from GM and PG&E

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