Nissan turns EVs into electricity plant to support Silicon Valley need

Nissan has launched a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot program in partnership with ChargeScape to help address Silicon Valley’s increasing electricity demand, driven largely by the rapid growth of AI data centers. The pilot, supported by the California Energy Commission’s Demand Side Grid Support program and operating within Silicon Valley Power’s utility territory, uses energy stored in Nissan EV batteries to supply power back to the grid during peak demand periods. Fermata Energy’s bidirectional chargers manage this energy discharge, while ChargeScape coordinates with market partner Leap to optimize power delivery and support data center loads. This initiative is part of a broader California Virtual Power Plant effort aimed at integrating EVs into the power grid. The program not only aims to stabilize the strained grid but also provides financial incentives to participating EV drivers, rewarding them for contributing to grid reliability. Silicon Valley Power, a publicly owned utility known for its lower electricity rates and comprehensive infrastructure management, benefits from this innovative approach to meet surging energy needs. Key stakeholders