ChargeScape, the automotive joint venture focused on electric vehicle-grid integration, and Japanese car maker Nissan have launched a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot in the utility territory covered by Silicon Valley Power (SVP).

Silicon Valley is one of the world’s data centre hotspots. The rise of AI has caused a surge in electricity demand coming from data centres, which many power grids were not designed to withstand. Utilities such as Silicon Valley Power (SiliconValleyPower.com) are seeking ways to increase power supply quickly to meet this demand and ensure grid reliability.

At Nissan’s technology centre in Silicon Valley, this pilot will use energy stored in EV batteries from Nissan electric vehicles, managed by Fermata Energy’s bidirectional chargers, to export power during periods of grid strain.

“At Fermata Energy, we are demonstrating how AI-enabled V2X optimisation can transform electric vehicles into intelligent grid resources,” said Hamza Lemsaddek, chief operating officer of Fermata Energy (fermataenergy.com). “By pairing our platform with bidirectional chargers at Nissan’s innovation lab, we’re proving that EVs can strengthen data centre reliability, support utilities like Silicon Valley Power, and deliver real economic value back to drivers and communities.”

ChargeScape will coordinate with market partner Leap to discharge power from Nissan vehicles and free up supply for data centre loads. The pilot is part of ChargeScape and Leap’s broader California Virtual Power Plant.

“Through this collaboration, we’re showcasing how electric vehicles can reinforce our communities’ electrical needs and deliver meaningful benefits to drivers,” said Rich Miller, vice president at Nissan in the USA (nissanusa.com).

Jason Michaels, CEO of Leap (leap.energy), added: “Our work with ChargeScape has shown the powerful potential of harnessing the EVs already on the road today to tackle urgent grid reliability challenges. Activating these vehicles as flexible, dispatchable grid resources is a game-changing tool to help utilities manage higher loads and unlock economic growth while putting dollars back in the hands of ratepayers. We look forward to expanding our partnership with ChargeScape to serve more communities.”

The pilot is part of ChargeScape’s mission to accelerate vehicle-grid integration and will lay the groundwork for other V2G programmes across California and other US states. Through this and other ChargeScape programmes, participating EV drivers will earn money for helping the power grid, a mechanism the company believes will help make EVs more affordable in the long run.

“AI is a fundamental component of American dynamism, and our nation’s power grids must quickly adapt to supply data centres with the energy needed to maintain America’s competitive edge in places like Silicon Valley,” said Joseph Vellone, CEO of ChargeScape (chargescape.com). “Integrating Nissan’s EV batteries into Silicon Valley Power’s grid is a crucial first step to shoring up long-term grid reliability and rewarding EV drivers.”

This pilot is possible through the California Energy Commission’s Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) programme.