PG&E and The Mobility House Launch Groundbreaking Vehicle-to-Grid Electric School Bus Fleet with Fremont Unified School District
PG&E (NYSE:PCG) has launched a pioneering vehicle-to-grid (V2G) electric school bus fleet with Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) and The Mobility House. The project features 22 electric vehicle chargers, including 6 bidirectional V2G fast chargers, supporting 14 electric school buses.
The initiative leverages The Mobility House's ChargePilot platform to optimize charging and enable participation in PG&E's Emergency Load Reduction Program. PG&E has upgraded the site's infrastructure with a 750 kVA transformer and 2,500 Amp switchgear to support current and future charging needs. This marks the second school district in PG&E's commercial fleet V2X pilot, following a successful deployment with Oakland Unified School District in 2024.
PG&E (NYSE:PCG) ha avviato, insieme al Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) e a The Mobility House, una flotta pionieristica di autobus scolastici elettrici vehicle-to-grid (V2G). Il progetto prevede 22 caricabatterie per veicoli elettrici, di cui 6 caricabatterie V2G bidirezionali ad alta potenza, a supporto di 14 autobus scolastici elettrici.
L'iniziativa sfrutta la piattaforma ChargePilot di The Mobility House per ottimizzare le operazioni di ricarica e permettere la partecipazione al Programma di Riduzione del Carico d'Emergenza di PG&E. PG&E ha potenziato l'infrastruttura del sito con un trasformatore da 750 kVA e un quadro elettrico da 2.500 A per far fronte alle esigenze di ricarica presenti e future. Si tratta del secondo distretto scolastico coinvolto nel pilota V2X per flotte commerciali di PG&E, dopo il successo registrato con l'Oakland Unified School District nel 2024.
PG&E (NYSE:PCG) ha puesto en marcha, junto con el Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) y The Mobility House, una flota pionera de autobuses escolares eléctricos vehicle-to-grid (V2G). El proyecto cuenta con 22 cargadores de vehículos eléctricos, incluidos 6 cargadores rápidos V2G bidireccionales, que dan soporte a 14 autobuses escolares eléctricos.
La iniciativa utiliza la plataforma ChargePilot de The Mobility House para optimizar la carga y posibilitar la participación en el Programa de Reducción de Carga de Emergencia de PG&E. PG&E ha actualizado la infraestructura del emplazamiento con un transformador de 750 kVA y un switchgear de 2.500 amperios para atender las necesidades de carga actuales y futuras. Este es el segundo distrito escolar en el piloto V2X de flotas comerciales de PG&E, tras el despliegue exitoso con el Oakland Unified School District en 2024.
PG&E (NYSE:PCG)가 Fremont Unified School District(FUSD) 및 The Mobility House와 함께 선구적인 차량-그리드(V2G) 전기 스쿨버스 플릿을 출범했습니다. 이 프로젝트에는 22대의 전기차 충전기가 설치되며, 그중 6대는 양방향 V2G 고속충전기로 14대의 전기 스쿨버스를 지원합니다.
이 사업은 The Mobility House의 ChargePilot 플랫폼을 활용해 충전 최적화를 수행하고 PG&E의 비상 부하 감축 프로그램(Emergency Load Reduction Program)에 참여할 수 있도록 합니다. PG&E는 현장의 인프라를 750 kVA 변압기와 2,500암페어 스위치기어로 업그레이드해 현재 및 향후 충전 수요를 지원합니다. 이는 2024년 Oakland Unified School District와의 성공적인 배치에 이은 PG&E의 상업용 플릿 V2X 파일럿의 두 번째 학군 참여 사례입니다.
PG&E (NYSE:PCG) a lancé, en collaboration avec le Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) et The Mobility House, une flotte pionnière d'autobus scolaires électriques vehicle-to-grid (V2G). Le projet comprend 22 chargeurs de véhicules électriques, dont 6 chargeurs rapides V2G bidirectionnels, qui desservent 14 autobus scolaires électriques.
L'initiative s'appuie sur la plateforme ChargePilot de The Mobility House pour optimiser la recharge et permettre la participation au Programme de Réduction de Charge d'Urgence de PG&E. PG&E a renforcé l'infrastructure du site avec un transformateur de 750 kVA et un appareillage de commutation de 2 500 ampères afin de répondre aux besoins de recharge présents et futurs. Il s'agit du deuxième district scolaire impliqué dans le pilote V2X pour flottes commerciales de PG&E, après un déploiement réussi avec l'Oakland Unified School District en 2024.
PG&E (NYSE:PCG) hat zusammen mit dem Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) und The Mobility House eine wegweisende vehicle-to-grid (V2G) Flotte elektrischer Schulbusse gestartet. Das Projekt umfasst 22 Ladegeräte für Elektrofahrzeuge, darunter 6 bidirektionale V2G-Schnellladegeräte, und unterstützt 14 elektrische Schulbusse.
Die Initiative nutzt die ChargePilot-Plattform von The Mobility House zur Ladeoptimierung und zur Teilnahme am Emergency Load Reduction Program von PG&E. PG&E hat die Anlagen vor Ort mit einem 750-kVA-Transformator und einem 2.500-A-Switchgear aufgerüstet, um den aktuellen und künftigen Ladebedarf zu decken. Dies ist der zweite Schulbezirk im kommerziellen Flotten-V2X-Pilot von PG&E, nach einer erfolgreichen Umsetzung mit dem Oakland Unified School District im Jahr 2024.
- Implementation of advanced V2G technology enabling buses to support grid reliability during peak demand
- Infrastructure expansion supporting 14 electric buses, replacing 6 internal combustion vehicles
- Additional revenue opportunities through energy export capabilities via Rule 21 interconnection
- Participation in PG&E's Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP) creating new revenue streams
- Significant infrastructure investment required including 750 kVA transformer and 2,500 Amp switchgear
- Gradual implementation with only 4 new electric buses in 2025 and 2 more in 2026
Insights
PG&E advances grid flexibility strategy through V2G school bus project, strengthening revenue potential while showcasing practical clean energy innovation.
This V2G deployment with Fremont Unified School District represents a strategic advancement in PG&E's grid modernization efforts. The project's technical specifications—including six bidirectional V2G fast chargers, grid infrastructure upgrades, and integration with PG&E's Emergency Load Reduction Program—position it as more than a sustainability initiative.
The implementation of The Mobility House's ChargePilot platform creates a multi-faceted value proposition for PG&E by establishing a bi-directional energy flow model where electric school buses serve dual purposes: clean transportation and distributed energy resources. This deployment effectively transforms school bus fleets from pure consumption assets into grid-supporting resources with revenue-generating potential during peak demand periods.
Particularly noteworthy is the Rule 21 interconnection framework enabling energy export and creating additional revenue opportunities—signaling PG&E's progress in operationalizing new business models around distributed energy resources. This project extends beyond corporate social responsibility into practical grid resilience enhancement.
The scaling potential is substantial as this marks PG&E's second commercial fleet V2X pilot, following their 2024 Oakland Unified deployment. The replicable model suggests PG&E is developing a scalable template for V2G integration across their service territory, potentially creating new utility revenue streams while solving grid capacity challenges inherent in transportation electrification.
For investors, this represents PG&E's evolution toward more sophisticated grid services and positions the utility to better capture value from the transportation electrification transition—a crucial adaptation as traditional utility business models face disruption from distributed energy resources.
Powerful Partnership Brings Clean Rides and Smart Energy to Students—and Sends Electricity Back to the Grid
With the installation of 22 electric vehicle chargers--14 previously installed low-power chargers, six high-power bidirectional V2G direct current (DC) fast chargers, and two additional high-power unidirectional chargers planned for 2026—FUSD is now equipped to power and manage a growing fleet of 14 electric school buses, including four Thomas Built and 10 Blue Bird buses.
This infrastructure will support the displacement of six internal combustion engine buses, with four new electric buses entering service this year and two more in 2026.
"This project is a shining example of how innovation creates a cleaner, smarter energy future," said Mike Delaney, Vice President, Utility Partnership and Innovation, PG&E. "We're proud to support Fremont USD and school districts across
Smart Charging, Smarter Grid
The project is led by The Mobility House (TMH) under the California Energy Commission-funded Replicable Vehicle-to-X Deployment Study (RVXDS).
TMH's intelligent charge management platform, ChargePilot, will optimize both charging and discharging of the fleet using open standards.
"Electric school buses, with their large batteries and predictable schedules, have tremendous potential to support the electric grid with V2G," said Gregor Hintler, CEO North America of The Mobility House. "We are proud to provide the technology that enables the district to drive clean and support community energy resilience."
As an aggregator, ChargePilot will also enable FUSD's participation in PG&E's Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP) by responding to OpenADR signals—turning school buses into grid assets that can support reliability during peak demand. OpenADR is an open, secure, and two-way information exchange model for Demand Response (DR) and Distributed Energy Resources (DER).
Powering the Future
To enable this transformation, PG&E upgraded the site's electrical infrastructure, including:
- A new 480 volt 3-phase service entrance (upgraded from 208V)
- A 750 kVA transformer
- Facilitated installation of a 2,500 Amp switchgear to meet current and future charging needs
PG&E expedited the energization process through a streamlined Rule 15/16 service upgrade, ensuring the site could accommodate the full allocation of six V2G DC fast chargers. Rules 15 and 16 are electric utility rules in
A Model for Replication
This marks the second school district participating in PG&E's commercial fleet Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) pilot, following the successful deployment with Zum and Oakland Unified School District in 2024.
Fremont USD's participation in PG&E's EV Fleet program, which began in 2019, has supported 17 electric school buses and 13 electric medium-duty vehicles with incentives for infrastructure and charging equipment.
Partners in Progress
This pioneering project is made possible through the collaboration of:
- The Mobility House
- Polara
- World Resources Institute
- Center for Transportation and the Environment
- PG&E
Together, these partners are helping Fremont USD lead the charge toward a cleaner, more resilient future—one electric school bus, one bidirectional charger, and one transformer at a time.
"We've already seen how the electric buses can contribute to cleaner air for our community," said Ernest Epley, FUSD's Director of Transportation. "Now, we have the opportunity to use these buses to deliver clean and reliable energy too."
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
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