Ars TechnicaSep 24, 2025
Charging the grid with your EV: First US residential pilot is now underway
Sunrun, Ford, and BGE started the vehicle-to-grid test in July.
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/09/charging-the-grid-with-your-ev-first-us-residential-pilot-is-now-underway/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social
Show threadLauren Weinstein
@arstechnica How can subjecting EV batteries to the stress of unnecessary charge/discharge cycles be anything other than bad for those EVs?
Sep 24, 2025 at 2:21pmWeb
Show threadAI6YR BenSep 24, 2025
@lauren @arstechnica Probably not great for the EV batteries, but the EV owners might do it anyway because they get $$$ kickback from the power companies for acting as power backup sources. I know a Powerwall owner who is part of some virtual power plant (VPP) program which uses a Powerwall to support the local grid when necessary.... stressing on the battery but they get paid for that reserve capacity.
Show threaddaveSep 24, 2025
@ai6yr @lauren @arstechnica and also for the warm fuzzy knowing you're potentially helping prevent a fossil peaker from being brought online instead.
Show threadLauren WeinsteinSep 24, 2025
@ai6yr @arstechnica Yeah, but you don't need to drive a Powerwall in an emergency.
Show threadJohn GoodenoughSep 24, 2025
@lauren @arstechnica I wouldnt call these cycles unnecessary because you help stabilize the grid and increasing the amount of renewables. The extra stress on the battery is small because you only use the battery between like 40 and 60 % that way the wear is kept to a minimum. Current studies suggest anyways that the battery will outlive most cars.