Electric Vehicles Could Become a Key Part of the Power Grid
Toyota is testing vehicle-to-grid technology to explore how electric vehicles could help support the power grid. The research is taking place at Toyota’s North American headquarters in Plano, Texas. The pilot program uses a Toyota bZ4X test vehicle connected to a bidirectional charger supplied by Fermata Energy. This setup allows the vehicle to both receive electricity from the grid and send power back when needed. Toyota is studying how this technology could be used during periods of high electricity demand or emergency situations.
The vehicle-to-grid pilot program began in 2022 and focuses on evaluating real-world grid interactions. The system uses software that monitors energy prices and grid conditions to determine when the vehicle should charge or discharge electricity. Toyota is working with utility partners including San Diego Gas and Electric and Pepco as part of the research. The company is assessing whether electric vehicles can act as backup power sources or help reduce strain on the grid. The goal is to better understand how bidirectional charging could benefit both utilities and drivers.
Toyota has stated that electric vehicles could collectively provide a large amount of energy storage if widely adopted. The combined batteries of electric vehicles in the United States could store energy comparable to dozens of nuclear reactors. This comparison highlights the potential scale of vehicle-to-grid technology. Toyota believes this stored energy could be used to support the grid during critical periods. The company views this approach as a way to improve energy resilience.
While Toyota continues testing vehicle-to-grid technology, other automakers already sell electric vehicles with this capability. These manufacturers include Hyundai, Nissan, Ford, and General Motors. This shows that bidirectional charging technology already exists in the electric vehicle market. Toyota has not announced when it plans to offer vehicle-to-grid capability in its consumer vehicles. As testing continues, the results of this research could help determine how electric vehicles evolve from transportation tools into essential components of the energy system.
