Summary
– Collaboration between Fermata Energy, Xcel Energy, City of Boulder, Colorado CarShare, and Boulder Housing Partners for a V2X bidirectional charging pilot project
– Project aims to use EVs as mobile power units to enhance grid resilience, reduce electric bills, and support communities and businesses
– Fermata Energy’s platform manages V2X technology, leveraging parked EVs to lower building peak demand while preserving the vehicle’s battery health
– Previous successful V2X deployments in Boulder and Denver, focusing on energy cost savings and sustainable transportation solutions
– Partnership marks a significant step towards integrating electric vehicles with the energy grid for enhanced resilience and efficiency.
Article
Fermata Energy, Xcel Energy, the City of Boulder, Colorado CarShare, and Boulder Housing Partners have announced a collaborative Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) bidirectional charging pilot project in Boulder, Colorado. This project aims to balance grid supply and demand by leveraging parked electric vehicles as mobile power units. The initiative will help advance grid resilience, reduce electric bill costs, and support underserved communities and local businesses. By using Fermata Energy’s intelligent bidirectional charging platform, the project will showcase the untapped potential of V2X and Vehicle-to-Building (V2B) technology.
The collaboration involves deploying four FE-20 chargers and two Colorado CarShare Nissan LEAFs to demonstrate V2X and V2B technology. When an electric vehicle is parked and in V2X mode, the Fermata Energy platform utilizes the vehicle’s battery energy to lower the building’s peak demand. This Demand Charge Management (DCM) software intelligently manages the system power and energy, preserving the vehicle’s battery health while optimizing customer value. The goal is to curtail building peak demand while maintaining the needed range for the electric vehicle’s duty cycle, showcasing the transformative potential of electric vehicles in energy management.
Tony Posawatz, CEO of Fermata Energy, emphasized the significance of electric vehicles in increasing grid resilience and sustainability. The collaboration with Xcel Energy aims to extend the benefits of electric vehicles to all customers, including those who do not drive or drive electric vehicles. Through this project, they seek to demonstrate the potential of bi-directional charging technology to enhance customer bill savings and deliver cleaner air by using increasingly clean electricity to power electric vehicles.
In addition to the Boulder project, Fermata Energy has implemented V2B technology in other locations, such as the City of Boulder and the Alliance Center in Denver, demonstrating the positive impact of V2X solutions. By collaborating with Xcel Energy, Colorado CarShare, and other partners, Fermata Energy is working to scale V2X technology deployments within Xcel Energy’s service territory. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in integrating electric vehicles with the energy grid to enhance resilience and efficiency, contributing to a global renewable energy ecosystem.
Fermata Energy is a leading platform services provider of intelligent V2X bidirectional charging technology, offering solutions like Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), Vehicle-to-Home (V2H), and Vehicle-to-Building (V2B). Founded in 2010, the company aims to accelerate the adoption of bidirectional energy technology solutions through innovation. Xcel Energy, a Minneapolis-based company, is focused on reducing carbon emissions and delivering clean energy solutions from renewable sources at competitive prices. Colorado CarShare aligns with Fermata Energy’s commitment to environmentally sustainable and socially responsible transportation solutions.
Overall, the collaborative efforts of Fermata Energy, Xcel Energy, the City of Boulder, Colorado CarShare, and Boulder Housing Partners demonstrate a practical application of V2X technology deployments, showcasing the potential for electric vehicles to play a critical role in energy management. By transforming parked electric vehicles into mobile power units, this initiative not only advances grid resilience and sustainability but also supports underserved communities and local businesses. The project serves as a blueprint for integrating electric vehicles with the energy grid to enhance efficiency and promote a renewable energy ecosystem.
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