California just awarded $1.1 million to Brooklyn-based EV charging company it’s electric to develop what would be the world’s first curbside vehicle-to-grid (V2G) EV charger.
The grant comes from the California Energy Commission’s Enabling Electric Vehicles as Distributed Energy Resources program, part of the state’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) initiative. Working with UC Berkeley and the University of Delaware, it’s electric plans to have the technology ready for the market by 2028.
The V2G charger won’t just pull electricity from the grid to charge a car; it will also be able to push energy back into the grid directly from the EV – something that has never been done in a curbside format, where millions of cars sit parked every day.
The new hardware will look the same as it’s electric’s current design but will bring bidirectional charging to city streets, including in low-income and disadvantaged communities. That means more equitable access to V2G technology, which can speed up EV adoption and cut emissions in line with California’s climate goals.
The project also includes the development of the J3068 Active Cable with the University of Delaware. This cable combines the SAE-standard untethered charging format with Delaware’s Active Cable Communication Module. That combo enables bidirectional charging while linking driver account info to the cable, making the system reliable and compatible across different charging setups.
Nathan King, cofounder and CEO of it’s electric, said, “Seven million light-duty vehicles are routinely parked on city streets in California. As these vehicles convert to electric, their batteries have enormous potential to help offset peak demand in critically overstrained electric utility service areas.” He added that all EV drivers should have equal access to programs that reward participation in demand-response and V2G services.
Commissioner Nancy Skinner added that the project could let cars do more than just drive: “it’s electric’s impressive project will pilot EV chargers that can not only power a car but also help that car power our grid, demonstrating the economic and resiliency benefits of V2G technology.”
At scale, curbside V2G chargers could allow cars parked on city streets to serve as distributed energy resources, helping both drivers and grid operators. By turning EVs into mobile batteries, the tech could reduce strain on the grid and avoid costly infrastructure upgrades.
UC Berkeley professor Scott Moura said his team is “excited to get to work on this project, and proud to be hosting deployment and testing of the world’s first bidirectional curbside charger.”
And University of Delaware professor Willett Kempton, a longtime V2G pioneer, called the investment another step forward: “We applaud the California Energy Commission for investing in this project, which will advance the ability of all communities to take advantage of V2G opportunities.”
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