Toyota and Oncor Electric Delivery, a Texas-based electric transmission and distribution company, have announced a joint pilot project to research vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

The effort is Toyota’s first EV-related collaboration with a US public utility. The results, Toyota says, will allow the two companies to be better prepared to support the EV charging ecosystem.

The initial phase will use Oncor’s Dallas research facility, composed of four interconnected microgrids that can be controlled independently or in parallel, in tandem or in combination. The microgrid and its subsystems include a V2G charger, solar panels and battery storage for testing and evaluation. A BEV will be used with the system to better understand interconnectivity between BEVs and utilities.

“We envision a future where BEVs can be utilized by customers to provide power to their homes, their communities, or even the electric grid in times of need,” said Christopher Yang, Group VP of Toyota’s Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions team. “Our collaboration with Oncor is an important step for us to understand the needs of utilities, as we plan to work closely with them to ensure every community can embrace Toyota’s shift to electrified vehicles.”

Source: Toyota