Massachusetts is advancing a demonstrative vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot program. Two major local utilities, Eversource and National Grid, will, for the first time, integrate bidirectional charging and discharging capabilities for residential electric vehicles into their existing ConnectedSolutions virtual power plant project . Eligible EV owners will be able to feed energy stored in their vehicle batteries back to the grid during peak grid load periods, receiving performance-based economic incentives in return.
The project is supported by smart charging and grid-connected technology from EnergyHub, Sunrun, and The Mobility House. According to subsequent updates, the official list of the first batch of confirmed compatible vehicle models has been released, including the Ford F-150 Lightning, Nissan LEAF, Kia EV9, Polestar 3 , and Volvo EX90 . However, the utility company has not yet specified the exact models of bidirectional charging stations that will be compatible, the start date for user registration, or the final unit incentive amount for each participating party.
For users participating through National Grid ConnectedSolutions, the current summer seasonal incentive is up to $275 per average kW . Based on typical home bidirectional charging pile power and actual response performance, the annual benefit per household is expected to reach $1,375–$2,750 . The incentive level will be dynamically determined based on the technology provider, battery capacity, and actual dispatch response performance.
ConnectedSolutions has previously integrated smart thermostats, home energy storage systems , and commercial and industrial load resources to alleviate grid pressure during peak electricity demand periods. The introduction of EV battery resources aims to validate their feasibility as a distributed, flexible regulation unit. Data shows that there are already over 150,000 electric vehicles on Massachusetts roads, and the lineup of models supporting bidirectional charging and discharging continues to expand.
When the power grid faces a sudden surge in load, vehicles activated by dispatch instructions can release some of their reserve electricity back into the grid. This not only helps mitigate the risk of system overload and reduce reliance on high-cost peak-shaving power sources, but in the long run, it may also reduce overall power supply costs, benefiting all electricity users.
“We are excited to bring our dispatch expertise to Massachusetts to help more people benefit from V2G technology,” said Chip Silverman, Director of Grid Services at Sunrun. “Electric vehicle batteries are playing a critical role in grid stability, home backup power, and reducing energy costs for society as a whole.”
National Grid has already pioneered the application of V2G technology to its light and medium-sized electric vehicle fleet under the ConnectedSolutions framework, with the first pilot project covering electric school buses; Eversource is also in talks with school districts in multiple locations to expand this capability through its upgraded ConnectedSolutions+ project.
The technology is basically mature, but whether it can be scaled up depends on two core variables: first, whether the incentives are attractive enough, and second, whether the user registration and device adaptation process is convenient enough. Only in this way can we truly motivate EV owners to voluntarily relinquish some battery usage rights when the power grid needs them most.
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