Overview
- A coalition including Eversource, National Grid, EnergyHub, Sunrun, and The Mobility House began the pilot on Thursday to enroll qualifying homes in the ConnectedSolutions virtual power plant.
- The initial rollout is tiny with about 45 residential vehicles signed up so far and applications open through September 30 for additional participants.
- Only a handful of consumer EVs are eligible today — Nissan Leaf, Kia EV9, Polestar 3, Volvo EX90, and Ford F-150 Lightning — and Tesla models are not accepted in the trial.
- Utilities estimate payments to participants at roughly $1,250 per year for typical performance and point to prior tests, such as a Beverly electric school bus that earned more than $23,000 over two years, as proof of revenue potential.
- Widespread use faces major hurdles because two‑way chargers currently cost about $5,000 to $10,000, compatible vehicle supply is limited, and the pilot will collect real‑world operational and consumer behavior data to shape standards and scaling.