When EVs Power More Than the Road

Utilities and automakers are testing whether EV batteries can help store and supply power through early vehicle to grid pilots

8 Jan 2026

Electric vehicles are no longer just changing how people drive. They are starting to reshape how electricity moves through the grid. Across the United States, utilities and automakers are running early vehicle to grid pilots to see whether parked EVs can act as flexible energy resources.

For now, most projects remain firmly in the pilot phase. Broad commercial deployment is still years away. Yet utilities facing rising demand, aging infrastructure, and more frequent extreme weather are under pressure to find alternatives to traditional grid upgrades. EV batteries offer a tempting option: energy that already exists, sits idle for long stretches, and could be tapped when the grid is under stress.

In Silicon Valley, Nissan vehicles are participating in a pilot led by ChargeScape, a joint venture backed by several major automakers. The program allows utilities limited access to stored energy under tightly controlled conditions. The goal is learning, not scale, with researchers studying grid benefits, customer behavior, and operational hurdles.

Charging technology is evolving alongside these trials. Wallbox has supplied bidirectional chargers for several utility and research pilots, focusing on compatibility and ease of use. The message from the field is consistent: vehicles, chargers, and grid systems need to be designed together if vehicle to grid concepts are going to work reliably.

Ford is testing a similar approach through residential and fleet focused programs. In Maryland, Ford vehicles paired with Sunrun home energy systems are part of a Baltimore Gas and Electric pilot evaluating how bidirectional charging can support homes and nearby networks. Fleets remain a priority because their predictable schedules make grid planning easier.

Early results suggest success hinges on simplicity. Drivers want clear incentives and technology that operates quietly in the background.

Regulatory complexity and questions about long term battery health remain unresolved. Still, as pilots expand and data accumulates, vehicle to grid technology is moving steadily from theory toward practical consideration. For utilities and automakers, EVs are beginning to look less like a challenge and more like an untapped grid asset.