Alex Kretzschmar

What if instead of being primarily a transportation device, EVs primarily became - en masse - energy storage devices that could be tapped into by the grid any time there is a power demand?
Like the gig economy you could earn more per unit by being somewhere in demand with zonal pricing.

I’m sure there must be more to it than this but if it worked you’d be able to cut down on transmission losses and costs by a huge amount no?

Oct 7 at 11:46amWeb
Show threadLiamOct 7
@ironicbadger my local utility has been trying that with school busses https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/10/illinois-utility-tries-using-electric-school-buses-for-bidirectional-charging/
Illinois utility tries using electric school buses for bidirectional charging

School buses are usually parked when the grid is under its biggest strain.

Ars Technica
Show threadAlex KretzschmarOct 7
@fruzyna now we are talking! And the buses have a very predictable schedule too. This might be genius.
Show threadMauricio Teixeira🐧Oct 7
@ironicbadger
Not trying to sell you anything, but you're basically talking about the Wallbox Quasar 2. Go check it out. You can probably pair that with Duke Energy's Net Metering.
Show threadAlex KretzschmarOct 7
@badnetmask does this only work with an ev9?
Interesting though !
Show threadMauricio Teixeira🐧Oct 7
@ironicbadger
Of course not. They're just giving incentives for owners of that particular car.
Show threadLeszek CiesielskiOct 7

@ironicbadger For stable grids, the cost of moving battery (in pure energy spend) is way bigger than transmission losses. I'm betting 2-3 orders of magnitude bigger.

There's the use case of occasional consumption, like construction sites, festivals, etc. Those are already going heavy on battery storage.

Show threadAlex KretzschmarOct 7
@skolima if you’re moving the battery for the purposes of just moving the battery then perhaps… but I would assume that kinda like a phone you would occasionally use it to make phone calls (drive to work).
Show threadPete StanleyOct 7
@ironicbadger this seems to be emerging already as I understand it. IIRC Octopus Energy in the UK have a new energy tariff where they actually lease you a BYD car on the basis that they dictate at-home charging, inc supplying energy back to them.
Show threadPete StanleyOct 7

@ironicbadger check out Jonathan Tracey on YT. Does some great content on home energy tech and min/maxing bills.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb07QvvKlQg

WARNING: Octopus Energy Tech Summit has Changed Car Leasing forever

YouTube
Show threadAlex KretzschmarOct 7
@automatepete oh fascinating
Show thread__Miguel_Oct 7

@ironicbadger Some vehicles already support V2L, the real problems to surpass are I believe standard V2L communication and of course and most important, utility providers actually wanting to not abuse their dominant market position (which often is a monopoly) to make it work.

That being said, within the same city there might be diminishing returns for "roaming" batteries, though over longer distances it might be somewhat useful.

Show threadGlenn BrownOct 7
@ironicbadger I know the Ioniq 5 does vehicle to load, Technology Connections talked about it. I think this should be a requirement for EV’s.
It could also serve as a perfectly cromulent generator type replacement.