The advantages of reversible charging for electric school bus fleets 

Is V2G necessary for electric school bus fleets? 

Those that applied for and were awarded EPA subsidies for electric school buses may be asking where to begin with designing their electric bus fleets. School bus fleet owners may be curious about vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology given the recent buzz surrounding the concept of EV Charger Installation Perth as a potential source of energy for the grid and revenue for fleet operators.  

So, what exactly is bidirectional charging, and how does it effect fleets? 

Bidirectional charging allows electricity to flow in both directions from an electric vehicle's battery to its many destinations, making it useful for a wide range of "vehicle-to-anything" (V2X) applications, including vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and off-grid (V2B) or vehicle-to-home (V2H) connections (V2H). It is simpler to supply power to buildings or dedicated fleet microgrids than it is to deliver power to the grid, which requires establishing grid connectivity. Because of this, it is important for fleet managers, drivers, and EV charging station hosts to learn if and when bidirectional charging schemes can meet their operational needs. 

The term "bidirectional charging" can refer to a variety of different technologies. 

Bidirectional charging is in its nascent stages in both technology and the markets. It is important for fleets to be able to compare the costs and benefits of bidirectional charging, so it is encouraging to see PG&E become the first utility to offer a V2G tariff for commercial customers (limited to three years). To ensure that all EV charging businesses are on an even playing field, grid operators and federal authorities will need to update the laws and regulations governing the energy market. 

Here's why V2G isn't necessary for the widespread adoption of electric school buses. 

Achieving both directions CP6000 used on a fleet of school buses 

Since of their regular routes and extensive breaks between duty cycles, electric school buses are often cited as a potential use case for V2G programmes because they can affordably charge via AC and plug in at specified times of day that may benefit the grid. Because of summertime service cuts, school buses may be able to help sustain the power system during times of high demand, such as heat waves. 

Some studies estimate potential income of $5,000 to $10,000 per bus per year via bidirectional charging programmes, and pilot programmes have been able to successfully feed energy from buses back to the grid during periods of high demand. However, the revenue generated by these "merchant" V2G operations that are not covered by contracts can vary from one year to the next. 

The estimated fundamental return of switching from diesel to electricity is much clearer, more reliable, and larger: studies predict EVs might yield $50,000 in overall savings per bus per year, with estimates of 80% lower energy expenses and 60% reduced maintenance costs. Also, unlike diesel and gas, energy prices tend to be quite consistent, making the cost savings for electric fleets extremely predictable. 

Strategies for implementing electric propulsion in existing school bus fleets 

Since V2G is still in its infancy, fleets should prioritise other high-impact efforts to save costs and improve benefits from electrification in the meantime. Setting up software to maximise EV charging is essential, in addition to providing charge stations with adequate power and numbers. 

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