California Advancing EV Infrastructure with Curbside V2G Chargers
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California is betting on the next evolution of EV infrastructure: curbside chargers that power cars – and the grid.
The state’s Energy Commission has awarded $1.1 million to it’s electric, a Brooklyn-based startup, to develop the world’s first curbside vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charger. Unlike conventional chargers, which only draw electricity from the grid, V2G systems allow EVs to send energy back. Parked cars become grid assets, discharging stored power during peak demand.
It’s a small design tweak with big implications. These chargers fit existing curbside spaces, where roughly seven million light-duty vehicles are parked in California each day. Unlike most current V2G systems found in private garages or fleets, this project targets public streets, where lower-income and apartment-dwelling drivers are more likely to park. Smart use of space, without major construction, means faster deployment where it matters most.
Visually, the units are designed to blend in with existing EV chargers. Under the hood, they integrate a J3068 Active Cable, enabling untethered, SAE-compliant charging and bidirectional energy flow. The project partners include UC Berkeley and the University of Delaware, two key players in grid-tech research.
Together, they’ll push the design through validation and early testing, aiming for commercial availability by 2028.
The tech holds promise on several fronts:
- It can relieve pressure on an aging grid, especially during heatwaves or high-demand events.
- It provides renters and multifamily residents access to advanced EV infrastructure.
- It builds distributed energy storage right on the street, without new substations or real estate.
This isn’t only about adapting to EV growth. It’s about leveraging it. By treating electric vehicles as mobile batteries, California is linking two major transitions, clean transportation and grid modernization, on the same curb.
