Heavy-Duty Vehicle Electrification and its Potential as a Clean Energy Alternative for Critical Operations
The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the Davis Campus
Recipient
Davis, CA
Recipient Location
3rd
Senate District
4th
Assembly District
$408,916
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The project team has partnered closely with Caltrans to identify and implement architectural adjustments required to install the Vehicle-to-Building (V2B) DC electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) at the Caltrans critical infrastructure facility and facilitate the connection of essential loads during emergency operation center (EOC) events. Significant progress has been made in 2025 to develop the bidirectional EVSE backup power solution with a comprehensive review of historical site data extracted from the energy monitoring system. The system provided four years of data to determine backup load requirements and appropriately size the backup solution. This led to the selection of a state-of-the-art EVSE platform and black start components, enabling the EV sweeper to reliably supply backup power. In parallel, detailed blueprint reviews and various site visits resulted in the evaluation of three design approaches for integrating the backup system. Through coordination with engineering and EPC teams, these approaches were refined based on system capabilities, site constraints, and best practices, resulting in a consolidated system design. The team is working closely with the EV sweeper powertrain manufacturer to determine the necessary vehicle modifications to enable discharge through the bidirectional EVSE. The manufacturer has held several meetings with the project team to align the scope of work and EVSE specifications, and is now preparing for bidirectional integration activities on the EV sweeper platform. In parallel, the project team identified the optimal charging and discharging behaviors of EV battery cells in line with the ISO 15118-20 communication protocol and developed and continuously refined a predictive model to assess the battery's state of health under various thermal conditions.
The Issue
Critical commercial buildings typically rely on fossil fueled backup generators that are polluting and expensive to maintain and operate. Large-scale dedicated behind-the-meter storage can be cost-prohibitive and potentially underutilized for backup power applications. Discharging energy from electric vehicles (EVs) for V2B services could provide a low-emission and low-cost solution for backup power. However, V2B products require additional features and functionality beyond existing bidirectional chargers, for example, the ability to remain operational when disconnected from grid power or to provide variable discharge rates to match fluctuations in local load. There is limited publicly available information on how effectively V2B technologies can meet the backup power requirements of commercial buildings. Uncertainty remains regarding potential battery degradation, suitability and reliability of various EV types, including medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, for V2B applications.
Project Innovation
This project will advance and demonstrate bidirectional charging technologies for heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs) to provide backup power and other electric services to a critical fleet facility located in a disadvantaged community in Oakland. The project will implement modifications to existing bidirectional charging hardware and software to enable blackstart and variable discharge capabilities. The project will also evaluate potential impacts on EV battery degradation from bidirectional charging and develop operational strategies to extend battery life.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
This project will result in the ratepayer benefits of greater electricity reliability, lower costs, and increased safety by advancing the capabilities and market availability of V2B technology that can serve as a flexible, clean demand-side energy resource. V2B technology can increase local energy resilience by providing backup power during outages. Additionally, V2B technology can support greater electric grid reliability through scheduled or event-based load shedding and/or shifting at times of high grid stress, energy cost, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Reliability
The V2B technology demonstrated can increase local energy resilience by providing backup power during outages. Additionally, the V2B technology can support greater electric grid reliability through scheduled or event-based load shedding and/or shifting.
Environmental Sustainability
The project will enable use of V2B with heavy-duty vehicles as an clean alternative to fossil fueled backup generators for providing resilience to critical commercial buildings.
Key Project Members
Keith Graeber
Subrecipients
Nuvve Holding Corp.
West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project
Match Partners
Regents of the University of California, Davis
Nuvve Holding Corp.
