California has spent years building out massive battery farms to support a cleaner power grid, but one of its biggest future energy resources may already be parked in people's driveways.
A new analysis suggests electric vehicles could serve as a powerful backup system for the state, storing renewable energy and sending it back to the grid when demand surges.
Here's what to know
According to Grist, the report estimates that by 2036, enrolling roughly 10% of California EV owners in vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, programs would supply one-third of the state's long-duration energy storage target.
That possibility comes as California is already moving aggressively to expand clean-energy storage. The state's battery capacity rose 2,100% between 2019 and 2025 as officials sought to hold onto more solar and wind power for use after sunset or when wind generation falls.
Kevala helped produce the report with GridLab and E3, and Pete Skala, the company's vice president of professional and advisory services, described the significance.
"It won't take a huge amount of participation to make a meaningful dent in what would otherwise be very expensive grid-scale storage purchases," Skala said.
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More background
California's energy challenge reflects a broader shift underway across the country. Electricity demand is climbing as more households replace gas-powered cars and appliances with electric alternatives, while energy-intensive data centers put even more pressure on the grid.
At the same time, rising temperatures are driving up air-conditioning use, especially in the evening. That creates a difficult timing issue for a grid increasingly powered by solar energy, since solar output fades right when people get home and begin using more power for appliances and cooling.
For years, utilities could often meet that late-day jump in demand by ramping up natural gas plants. But as clean energy becomes a larger part of the mix, the grid needs more flexible options to balance supply and demand without locking in more planet-warming pollution.
What's being done?
The report says V2G is most effective when paired with other "flexible load" measures that reduce electricity use or move it to another part of the day.
One example already in place is opt-in demand response through smart thermostats.
In those programs, homeowners allow utilities to raise indoor temperatures a few degrees during heat waves so air conditioners cycle less. Across many households, that can blunt the usual late-afternoon demand surge and reduce strain on the grid.
V2G could provide similar support from the supply side, though one major question remains: how much EV owners should be paid.
The report notes that incentives need to be high enough to attract participation without becoming so costly that they erase the savings from avoiding more utility-scale battery projects.
Drivers would not necessarily have to give up convenience, either. Owners could set preferences for when they need a full charge, while broader participation could help prevent future rate hikes from being passed on to all customers.
As Skala put it, "We need to make sure that we set these incentives at levels in which everybody wins."
Where can I learn more?
Making parked EVs part of the grid will take more than battery capacity. The articles here cover charging hardware, public infrastructure, and broader EV adoption that will shape how many cars are ready to help when demand spikes.
• GM says its EVs could power homes during blackouts and help utilities balance demand.
• Auto experts say myths holding Americans back from EV ownership could also shrink future grid support.
They put the promise of V2G in practical terms. Scaling it will take coordination across utilities, drivers, charger networks, and automakers moving in step.
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