Rudy Halbright, expert product manager at PG&E, shares his insights on turning electric school buses into a virtual power plant. He discusses the challenges and innovations involved in implementing an all-electric fleet in Oakland, including partnerships between school districts and utilities. Rudy delves into advanced charging solutions and the complexities of energy cost modeling, emphasizing the economic implications of vehicle-to-grid technologies. His passion for sustainability shines through as he navigates the hurdles of energy innovation.
The implementation of vehicle-to-grid technology in electric school buses not only promotes grid stability but also aligns with decarbonization goals.
Rudy highlights the importance of education, collaboration, and understanding dynamic pricing to overcome obstacles in electrification initiatives.
Deep dives
Rudy's Journey to Electrification
Rudy Halbright's path to the field of electrification began with a unique science fair project in fifth grade, where he explored solar water heating concepts. His initial ambition faced challenges due to the lack of accessible materials, leading to a setback but planting the seed of interest in renewable energy. After a successful career in IT, which he described as unfulfilling, Rudy transitioned to professional photography before finally returning to his roots in clean energy. Earning an MBA that focused on renewable energy paved the way for his current role as an electric vehicle charging consultant, combining his interests in technology and energy.
Innovative Vehicle-to-Grid Technology
Rudy's work with PG&E focuses on a groundbreaking vehicle-to-grid (V2G) project involving the largest all-electric school bus fleet in the U.S. This initiative allows buses to act as energy storage systems, facilitating charging during low-demand periods and discharging energy back to the grid when necessary. With the use of sophisticated bi-directional chargers and telemetry solutions, this program ensures seamless energy management and offers significant financial benefits through participation in demand-response programs. By leveraging the predictable usage patterns of school buses, the project exemplifies how electrification can contribute to grid stability and decarbonization goals.
Challenges and Future Prospects
The implementation of this V2G project faces various challenges, including hardware certification delays and educating companies on the benefits of energy flexibility. Achieving widespread adoption requires utilities to demystify dynamic pricing models and articulate the economic advantages of electrification to potential customers. As utilities navigate complex rate structures while aligning with environmental goals, the collaboration between different stakeholders remains crucial for successful integration. Rudy emphasizes that ongoing education, patience, and collaboration are necessary to overcome barriers and enhance the effectiveness of electrification initiatives.
With their short, predictable routes and large battery size, electric school buses are well suited for vehicle-to-grid applications, especially since they’re available during periods of high electricity demand.
Last year, bus maker Zum launched a fleet of 74 electric school buses — the country’s largest — for the Oakland Unified School District in California. It worked with Pacific Gas & Electric to build a network of chargers and integrate the buses to the local grid to form a virtual power plant.
This week on With Great Power, Rudi Halbright – expert product manager on vehicle-grid integration at PG&E – shares insights from launching the V2G program with Zum as well as lessons learned on how to deploy vehicle-grid infrastructure.
This podcast is produced by GridX in partnership with Latitude Studios. GridX is the Enterprise Rate Platform that modern utilities rely on to usher in our clean energy future.
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