- Research to focus on the customer experience, business model
and technology aspects of V2G using the Toyota bZ4X to explore
how EVs support both customers and the grid
- SDG&E research collaboration location to feature
bidirectional charger onsite
- SDG&E's service territory represents one of the largest
Toyota BEV and PHEV ownership markets
PLANO,
Texas and SAN DIEGO,
Nov. 14,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor North America
(Toyota) and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), a
Southern California-based public
utility that serves 3.7 million people, announced today that they
have agreed to collaborate on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) research for
battery electric vehicles (BEVs) using a Toyota bZ4X. The V2G
research will explore bidirectional power flow technology that
enables BEV owners to both charge their vehicle's batteries from
the electric grid and discharge electricity from the batteries back
to the grid. V2G technology has the potential to support customer
needs through improved energy reliability and resilience, the
integration of renewables, and the possibility of reduced
electricity costs.
Understanding the needs of BEV owners, their charging habits,
and when they use their vehicles will be crucial in driving
widespread adoption of V2G. Nearly 80 percent of owners currently
charge their BEVs at home overnight, when grid demand is lower.
With bidirectional capability, these vehicles could send power back
to the grid during peak demand hours or at other critical times,
such as during rotating outages due to shortage in electricity
supplies. The collaboration between SDG&E and Toyota's Electric
Vehicle Charging Solutions (EVCS) team aims to find synergies
between the needs of BEV owners and the needs of the electricity
grid, as well as explore how to communicate with BEV owners about
the potential benefits of bidirectional capabilities.
SDG&E's service territory, which encompasses 25 communities
in San Diego and southern
Orange Counties, represents one of
the largest Toyota BEV and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)
ownership regions in California.
The Golden State is the fastest-growing EV market in the nation,
making it an excellent area in which to conduct this research.
"We are embracing the concept of an entire electrified ecosystem
for our customers, and the ability for vehicles to integrate with
the grid is an essential component of this ecosystem," said
Christopher Yang, group vice
president, Toyota EV Charging Solutions. "Working with leading
utilities, such as SDG&E, will ensure that customers can
continue to confidently charge at home. Toyota seeks to empower
utilities to better anticipate and leverage the significant number
of plug-in hybrid and BEVs on their grids, both as a growing source
of energy demand and, in the future, energy supply."
"V2G has the potential to be a game changer for the power grid
and for consumers, and we're proud to partner with Toyota to
advance this technology," said SDG&E Chief Commercial Officer
Miguel Romero. "Together, we're
forging new pathways toward a sustainable and resilient energy
future for our customers and the communities we serve."
The V2G research will take place at SDG&E's campus in
San Diego, California, using
Fermata Energy's bidirectional charger and V2G platform. SDG&E
employs a highly knowledgeable clean transportation team that has
implemented a variety of EV charging infrastructure programs. To
date, the company has installed more than 3,600 chargers at
workplaces, schools, and parks, as well as industrial and
commercial facilities. SDG&E has already electrified more than
20 percent of its over-the-road fleet and works closely with many
fleet operators to help them transition to EV fleets.
With insight gained from the V2G research collaboration,
SDG&E and Toyota aim to identify current and future customer
benefits that can be achieved through new products and services.
The pilot will also assist SDG&E in understanding the
infrastructure needed to enable the rapid growth of EV charging
infrastructure, both in public and private settings, and to further
stabilize the power grid during peak hours.
Currently, Toyota offers two mass-market BEVs in the U.S. and
Canada – the Toyota bZ4X and Lexus
RZ 450e. Toyota recently announced plans for an all-new three-row
BEV SUV that will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Kentucky in 2025. By 2030, Toyota aspires to offer 30 BEV models
globally across its Toyota and Lexus brand nameplates and produce
up to 3.5 million BEVs annually.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the
cultural fabric in North America
for more than 65 years and is committed to advancing sustainable,
next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus
our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the
design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and
trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota's 14th plant
in North Carolina will begin to
manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With
more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker,
Toyota currently offers 26 electrified options.
For more information about Toyota, visit
www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
For Toyota customer inquiries, please call 800-331-4331.
About SDG&E
SDG&E is an innovative energy
delivery company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to
better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to
creating a sustainable future by increasing energy delivered from
low or zero-carbon sources; accelerating the adoption of electric
vehicles; and investing in innovative technologies to ensure the
reliable operation of the region's infrastructure for generations
to come. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE). For more
information, visit SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on X
(previously known as Twitter) (@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and
Facebook.
Media Contacts:
Toyota:
Josh Burns
Joshua.Burns@Toyota.com
SDG&E:
Humberto Gurmilan
HGurmila@sdge.com
(619) 823-0951
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America