Battery-electric school buses are becoming a familiar topic in the alternative power commercial vehicle space, and not always for good reasons, such as is the case of failed EV startup Lion Electric.
[Related: U.S. schools' Lion Electric bus warranties 'null and void', Quebec coverage unchanged]
Fortunately, it turns out electrified school buses can serve another purpose aside from bringing kids to and from school.
Vancouver-based BC Hydro has just announced it's the first utility in Canada to launch a real-world field test of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology with electric school buses. V2G tech, as its name indicates, allows for electric vehicles to receive and return electricity from the grid, turning EVs into mobile energy storage units that can pump power back into the grid during peak demand and, if necessary, help stabilize it in certain situations.
BC Hydro's pilot project, launched in collaboration with Lynch Bus Lines and Fuse Power Management, builds on a successful lab-based demonstration of V2G technology conducted in December 2023 at Powertech Labs. During that test, a single electric school bus showcased the potential of bidirectional charging, thus allowing power to flow both to and from the grid.
BC Hydro is now set to move beyond the lab and test the technology in real-world conditions. The goal is simple: to better understand how electric vehicles can support the grid, provide value to customers, and reduce the need for diesel generators in remote or emergency situations.
Each electric school bus involved in the project can store up to 200 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is enough to power approximately 75 single-family homes for nearly two hours.
[Related: Electric school buses generate $1.6B in health and climate benefits, study finds]
Upon the pilot's completion, Lynch Bus Lines' electric school buses will serve a dual purpose: Transporting students and acting as mobile power sources. When not on the road, they can provide backup power during outages and help manage peak electricity demand, easing strain on the grid.
"This project is a glimpse into the future of energy," said Charlotte Mitha, President and CEO of BC Hydro. "By exploring how mobile assets like EVs can be strategically deployed, we’re unlocking new ways to strengthen the grid, improve resilience and deliver value to our customers and communities across B.C."
