Oncor, Toyota partner on vehicle-to-grid

The partnership intends to research the customer and grid benefits of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) with electric vehicles (EVs).

The aim of the pilot project between the Texas-based electricity company and the Japanese vehicle manufacturer is to develop a seamless electric mobility experience for customers and advance emobility in general.

The initiative, a first for Toyota with a public utility in the US, is expected to provide insight both into the current and future needs of Toyota and Oncor customers as well as the ways to reliably provide the grid infrastructure necessary to enable the rapid growth of EVs.

“Electrification is coming, and it’s Oncor’s job to build a safer, smarter, more reliable electric grid that can enable the needs of our customers, the state of Texas and the ERCOT market,” commented Jim Greer, Oncor executive vice president and chief operating officer.

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“This project marks the first collaboration of its kind between Oncor and an OEM manufacturer, and we look forward to someday implementing the lessons learned from this pilot project in benefit of the many communities we serve.”

The initial phase of the project will take place at Oncor’s research and testing microgrid at its System Operating Services Facility (SOSF) at Lancaster in south Dallas, near to Toyota’s national headquarters.

The microgrid is composed of four interconnected microgrids that can be controlled independently, but also operated in parallel, tandem or combined into a single, larger system. The microgrid and its subsystems also include a V2G charger, solar panels and battery storage for testing and evaluation.

Toyota and Oncor plan to use a battery EV along with the system to better understand the interconnectivity between these vehicles and utilities.

A second phase slated for 2023 will include a V2G pilot where testing will be conducted with EVs connected at homes or businesses within Oncor’s service territory.

Christopher Yang, group vice president of Toyota Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions team, which is leading the initiative said the company envisions a future where Toyota EVs provide a best-in-class mobility experience, but also can be utilised to power homes, communities or back to the grid in times of need.

“Our collaboration with Oncor is an important step for us to understand the needs of utilities, as we plan to work closely with them to ensure every community can embrace Toyota’s shift to electrified vehicles.”

Toyota’s first mass market battery EV, the bZ4X, went on sale in the US and Canada in Spring of 2022. The first Lexus EV, the RZ 450e, is scheduled to go on sale in early 2023.