An innovative vehicle to building (V2B) project that will enable the batteries of electric buses to supply backup power to community facilities so they may provide a safe haven for locals during emergencies has been funded by the California Energy Commission. AC Transit operates the electric buses that are utilized in Oakland; they were purchased from New Flyer.
press release reports that the project received $3.2 million in funding from the CEC’s Electric Investment Charge program, with an additional $400,000 in matching funds coming from AC Transit and the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP). The Center for Transportation and the Environment, Mobility House, AC Transit, New Flyer, Schneider Electric, the City of Oakland, and WOEIP are partners in this pilot research, which is locally known as “V2B Oakland.”
POWER STORAGE FOR EMERGENCIES FROM ELECTRIC BUSES The Oakland Public Library’s West Oakland branch will receive six hours of backup power from each of the battery-powered buses for use with important loads. In addition, compared to conventional diesel backup generators, hydrogen fuel cell electric buses will eliminate over 100 pounds of carbon emissions every hour and offer up to 11 uninterrupted hours of backup power. This initiative, which is carried out in close cooperation with New Flyer, will enable a US transit agency to utilize a hydrogen vehicle as V2B backup power for the first time.
“It has been a fantastic experience launching the first community resilience center powered by a bidirectional V2B charging technology. We are able to provide much-needed emergency response benefits for both transit agencies and communities by fusing cutting-edge technological innovation and sustainability, according to Jason Hanlin, head of technology research at CTE. We are eager to bring this innovative project to fruition using CTE’s tried-and-true project management methodology because it involves so many important stakeholders.
The Bus Exportable Power Supply (BEPS) capability, bidirectional chargers, and smart software that make up the robust backup power system will be integrated and tested at New Flyer’s Hayward headquarters before being implemented at an AC Transit bus division and the Oakland Library. The system is intended to run the library’s updated HVAC and air filtration system, giving clean air and energy within the structure to turn it into a community refuge during emergencies and power outages.
The Mobility House US managing director Gregor Hintler said, “We are happy to apply our’vehicle-to-everything’ knowledge from several projects in Europe and Asia to now construct the first-ever vehicle-to-building resilience centre in the U.S. Our ChargePilot technology coordinates the charging and discharging of the bidirectional chargers so that the buses can power vital building loads, ensuring that all transit mobility needs are met.
Because of their large energy storage capacity, electrical architecture, independence from other vehicles, and ability to be swiftly dispatched, electric bus fleets are ideally suited for backup power and disaster relief. The electric bus system offers speedier reaction times and reduced emissions when compared to diesel generators, which are currently the standard technology for emergency backup power. In addition to being more economical, giving community support benefits raises the value of electric vehicles and chargers.
Jana Gerber, president of Schneider Electric’s Microgrids North America, said, “Powering emergency shelters with islanded electricity supplies is an innovative feat we are delighted to help facilitate.” The ability to show how several technologies can work together so seamlessly and intelligently to provide essential backup power for the community and infrastructure is extremely thrilling.
According to AC Transit general manager Michael Hursh, “Providing dependable public transit service to approximately 22 million yearly users is without a doubt our primary priority, but we also explore collaborations and initiatives that promote zero emission technology.” “V2B is one example of a zero emission initiative that allows us to utilize our resources to increase the resiliency and emergency preparedness of the different communities we’ve served for the past 60 years,” the company said.
According to Brian Beveridge, co-executive director of WOIEP, “many low income areas share streets and fence lines with the freight industry and endure fatal pollution from petroleum burning. “With our electrical networks already under stress from the effects of global warming and solar and wind power unable to keep up with the urgent demand, hydrogen may provide an additional option for zero-emission freight transportation. Cleaner, safer streets and air quality will result from an increased range of transportation energy options for communities like West Oakland.
The infrastructure should be put in place by the middle of 2023, and the pilot program’s demonstration, analysis, evaluation, and knowledge transfer will last until July 2025.
Readers of CleanTechnica are familiar with The Mobility House. It has been chosen to control the charging of the electric buses used by the St. Louis public transportation system and the fleet of electric cars owned by Austria Post. Its goal is to develop an energy and transportation future without emissions.
THE CONCLUSION Such initiatives in Oakland show that electric vehicles provide much more than just zero-emission transportation. The added value that electric vehicles enable when they are connected to the grid is still being fully understood. Buses are particularly useful for this since, when not in use, they can offer hours and hours of emissions-free backup power.
Electric vehicles are not a burden, but rather the key to the resilient energy systems of the future, utilities are progressively realizing. Yes, we may not yet be there, but initiatives like this demonstrate the potential. We can only advise those who feel that the future is moving too slowly to have patience, grasshopper. Energy markets will change in ways that we currently cannot even envisage thanks to electric automobiles.
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