Why plugging in all those EVs could actually save the power grid

Electric vehicles sitting in driveways could help solve a growing grid problem, according to a new report from the nonprofit GridLab, the grid software company Kevala, and the energy consulting firm E3. Many EV models come with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which lets a parked car send power back into the electric system when demand is high. The report found that if just one in ten California EV owners signed up for V2G programs by 2036, they could supply a third of the long-duration energy storage the state is aiming for — storage that would otherwise require expensive battery farms.

The idea addresses a real strain on grids everywhere: more homes switching to electric heat, stoves, and cars, plus power-hungry data centers, are pushing up demand, while hotter summers mean more air conditioning right as solar power fades at sunset. EVs, which often sit idle and plugged in, could fill that gap. Owners who join a V2G program would set a time by which they need their car charged, so they wouldn't wake up to a dead battery.

The report pairs this with "demand response," where a homeowner agrees to let a utility nudge their smart thermostat up a few degrees during a heat wave, trimming AC use during peak hours. If utilities get the payment amounts right — enough to encourage participation without overpaying — the savings from avoiding new battery infrastructure could keep electricity rates lower for everyone, whether or not they own an EV.