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To maximize the benefits of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, the policies and regulations for the energy sector need to allow electric vehicles (EVs) to act as distributed energy resources. V2G involves an EV discharging its battery in response to requests from markets, utilities, or the EV owner. Public utilities need to be able to certify that the vehicles are safely sending energy back to the grid, and then measure that energy to compensate the EV owner when that happens.

Led by the University of Delaware, where V2G was first invented by Nuvve’s Chief Technology Officer, Willett Kempton, the state of Delaware has addressed several of these regulations via legislation.

Here is a summary of Delaware legislation that is moving V2G forward:

1. Defining V2G: a clear definition of EVs using V2G has been created calling them “grid integrated vehicles.” That means that bidirectional EVs have a regulatory status that makes it easier to consistently address it in current and future legislation.

2. Net metering: this allows EV owners to receive credits on their electric bill when energy is discharged from the vehicle back to the grid.

3. Interconnection: this allows EVs to be considered a safe energy resource when operating in bidirectional mode. The Delaware law that addresses this – SB12 – is the first in the country to fully standardize the utility regulation process for birectional EVs.

There is still work to be done to make it easier for EVs to access markets, but Delaware is ahead of the rest of the United States as far as recognizing and clearing the way for the important role V2G can play in reducing carbon emissions and integrating clean energy into the grid.

Learn more about the latest Delaware laws and the critical role the University of Delaware played.

[Photo credit: University of Delaware; pictured: Sara Parkison (left), Willett Kempton (middle) and Rodney McGee (right) who all worked on the legislation.]

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