Fermata Energy launches vehicle-to-grid charging pilot for multifamily housing
This is part of a collection of case studies that focus on creative charging solutions for EV drivers in multifamily housing. For more information and the full collection, visit our Charging Solutions for EV Drivers in Multifamily Housing hub.
Challenge
Demand for electricity from the grid fluctuates throughout the day, which causes prices to fluctuate as well. Electric vehicle (EV) batteries can charge and store energy when demand is low and feed it back into the grid when demand is high. How can we leverage this unique EV capability for multifamily housing residents?
Objectives and solutions
BlueHub Capital, a nonprofit community development financing organization, saw an opportunity for affordable housing developments to provide EV charging for residents while earning credits from their local electric utility. They partnered with Fermata Energy, a company that makes a bi-directional EV charger that can transport electricity between a vehicle and the grid (which is called vehicle-to-grid or V2G charging). This utility partnership allows EVs at multifamily residences to support grid efficiency while earning revenue to help lower the costs of charger installation and the electricity for charging. The first location selected for this V2G pilot was the Girls Latin Academy Apartments located in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, MA, and managed by the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation.
Since June 2023, a resident at this affordable housing complex has been able to rent a Nissan LEAF and charge it at home using Fermata Energy’s 20kW bi-directional charger. The local electric utility, Eversource, notifies Fermata Energy of an ‘event’ when they need additional power and electricity will be discharged from the car back into the grid. These ‘events’ are usually in the evenings in the summer, corresponding with peak energy demand. Eversource pays Fermata Energy $200 per kW discharged during an ‘event’. If the car is plugged in for a total of 40 to 60 events for 2 to 3 hours each, it could earn up to $4,000 per summer, which could offset electricity costs for charging.
This project required an upfront loan from BlueHub Capital for the building’s charger installation. The driver receives free charging and discounts on their car lease from Enterprise and insurance. In the future, the pilot could be expanded to include more drivers who could bring their own cars, more buildings that can earn revenue, and software that can manage the load of each vehicle in a bank of chargers. For now, the participating driver appreciates the opportunity to save money and build a more sustainable future.
Elements for Success
Elements for Success- The upfront loan provided by BlueHub Capital made this project possible for an affordable housing development that may not have otherwise been able to provide EV charging for residents.
- The utility partnership between Fermata Energy and Eversource was critical for the installation process and the bidirectional charging software, which allows credits for energy discharged back into the grid during peak ‘events.’
References
- Electric Vehicle Pilot – BlueHub Capital
- First-in-Nation Pilot to Provide Affordable Access to EV
- How V2X works – Fermata Energy
Recap:
Charger type: DC fast charging
Charging type: Private
Problem solved: Access, Equipment, Cost
Solution type: Technology
