PG&E and The Mobility House Launch Groundbreaking Vehicle-to-Grid Electric School Bus Fleet with Fremont Unified School District

Rhea-AI Summary

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.

Positive

• 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

Negative

• 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

Utilities & Clean Energy Infrastructure Expert

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

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), in partnership with Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) and The Mobility House today announced the commissioning of one of California's most advanced vehicle-to-grid (V2G) electric school bus fleets—marking a major milestone in clean transportation, grid resilience, and student health.

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 California as they convert to better, electrified student transportation."

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 California that outline the requirements for service line extensions, which are lines that connect the distribution lines to the customers' electric meters. The site is also interconnected via Rule 21, allowing energy export and additional revenue opportunities for the school. Electric Rule 21 describes the interconnection, operating and metering requirements for generation facilities to be connected to an investor-owned utility's (IOUs) distribution and transmission system.

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 Central California. For more information, visit pge.com, pge.com/news and pge.com/innovation.

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

FAQ

What is PG&E's vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program with Fremont schools?

PG&E has implemented a V2G system with 22 electric vehicle chargers and 14 electric school buses at Fremont Unified School District, allowing buses to both charge and send power back to the grid during peak demand.

How many electric school buses are in PG&E's Fremont USD fleet?

The fleet consists of 14 electric school buses, including 4 Thomas Built and 10 Blue Bird buses, with plans to add more buses in 2026.

What infrastructure upgrades did PG&E implement for the V2G program?

PG&E installed a 750 kVA transformer, 2,500 Amp switchgear, and upgraded to 480 volt 3-phase service to support the charging infrastructure.

How does PG&E's ChargePilot system work with electric school buses?

ChargePilot optimizes both charging and discharging of the fleet, enables participation in the Emergency Load Reduction Program, and responds to OpenADR signals to support grid reliability during peak demand.

What are the financial benefits of PG&E's V2G program for schools?

Schools can generate revenue through energy export opportunities via Rule 21 interconnection and participation in PG&E's Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP).