Summary
- GM electric vehicle owners in California can get a $4,500 discount on home-backup power hardware
- Program aims to evaluate bidirectional charging capabilities of GM EVs for home power and grid support
- Incentivized pricing for GM Energy home energy products for PG&E customers in Northern and Central California
- Participants can receive additional incentives by opting into planned backup power events and suspending charging during high-load times
- Program could lay the groundwork for future Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) programs
Article
General Motors (GM) and utility company Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) have announced a pilot program in California that offers a $4,500 discount on home-backup power hardware for GM electric vehicle (EV) owners. The program aims to evaluate the use of bidirectional charging capability in GM EVs to power homes and potentially support the grid through vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications. GM EV-owning PG&E customers in Northern and Central California are eligible for incentivized pricing on GM Energy home energy products as part of the program.
The hardware being used for home power backup includes the PowerShift Charger wallbox, an Enablement Kit with inverter, and a “dark start” battery, as well as the PowerBank home energy storage system. All of GM’s latest EVs, formerly known as Ultium, are bidirectional-capable, with potential for expanded capabilities through software updates. While all 2025-model-year EVs will be eligible for the program soon, only 2024 models like the Chevrolet Silverado, Blazer, Equinox, and GMC Sierra, as well as both 2024 and 2025 Cadillac Lyriq models, are currently confirmed for participation.
Participants in the program can earn additional incentives by opting into planned backup power events, enrolling in PG&E’s Emergency Load Reduction Program, and choosing to stop charging their EVs during coordinated times. GM and PG&E will collect data on charging patterns to evaluate the potential of bidirectional technology to provide value to customers, support grid resiliency, and scale bidirectional technology programs in California. While the initial focus is on using EVs for home backup power, the program could pave the way for EVs to support the grid as well.
Ford has offered a bidirectional system for the F-150 Lightning for home backup purposes for several years, but this announcement with GM and PG&E highlights the potential for using EVs for grid support. Currently, the only manufacturer-approved V2G charger available, beyond pilot programs, is the Fermata FE-20 for the Nissan Leaf. The partnership between GM and PG&E could lay the groundwork for future V2G programs and expand the use of EVs as a grid-supporting technology in California.
Overall, the pilot program with GM and PG&E in California offers GM EV owners an opportunity to receive discounts on home-backup power hardware and earn additional incentives for participating in grid-support initiatives. By utilizing bidirectional charging capabilities in GM EVs, the program aims to evaluate the benefits of V2H and V2G applications for powering homes and supporting the grid. Through data collection and analysis of participants’ charging patterns, GM and PG&E hope to demonstrate the value of bidirectional technology and potentially pave the way for broader adoption in the future.
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