Overview
- The GridLab/Kevala/E3 roadmap released Aug. 18–19, 2026 finds that enrolling 10% of California’s projected EV fleet in vehicle-to-grid programs could supply about 9 gigawatts for 12 hours, roughly 108 gigawatt-hours of capacity.
- The analysis uses California Energy Commission projections of about 9.7 million light-duty EVs by 2036, which the report says represent more than 110 GW of behind-the-meter potential if made available to the grid.
- Authors call for a small set of standardized, interoperable program pathways that pay participants only for verified grid performance and recommend payments generally set below avoided cost to protect non-participating ratepayers.
- The report flags concrete barriers that must be solved first, including vehicle and charger compatibility with V2G, ensuring cars are plugged in when needed, utility enrollment processes, and interconnection rules.
- If implemented, the plan could reduce expensive utility battery procurement and lower rates for many customers but will require regulatory changes at utilities and the California Public Utilities Commission and broader work on enrollment, verification, and technical standards; the recommendation builds on a 2024 GridLab/Brattle study showing virtual plants using distributed devices can lower peak demand and system costs.