Massachusetts open to bidirectional EV and V2G setups

Utility companies Eversource and National Grid are teaming up with EnergyHub, Sunrun, and The Mobility House to test vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, technology in Massachusetts. V2G lets an electric vehicle send power back to the grid, not just draw power from it, turning a parked EV into a small backup energy source. Under the test, customers of Eversource or National Grid who own a V2G-capable EV can enroll in ConnectedSolutions, an existing program that already uses home batteries, smart thermostats, and other equipment to help ease strain on the grid during high-demand periods.

Massachusetts has more than 150,000 EVs on the road, and more bidirectional-capable models are coming to market. That gives utilities a growing pool of potential backup capacity they can tap during peak demand, in exchange for benefits to participating customers. National Grid is also testing V2G with school bus fleets, and Eversource is talking with school districts about a similar offering called ConnectedSolutions+.

If you own an EV in Massachusetts and it supports bidirectional charging, this program may eventually let you enroll it to help manage grid demand, alongside home batteries and thermostats already eligible under ConnectedSolutions. The effort is described as a test at this stage, so details on enrollment, eligible vehicle models, and any compensation were not specified. Homeowners elsewhere can check whether their own utility offers a similar demand-response program for EVs or home batteries.