Puget Sound Energy has completed installing five vehicle-to-grid charging systems at two Western Washington school districts. When buses are not transporting students to and from school, they will be plugged into chargers that can transfer energy in both directions instead of just charging the buses, according to PSE.
The Olympia School District and Snoqualmie Valley School District currently have Vehicle-to-Grid fast charging stations installed. During peak energy times, when buses have completed their routes, PSE can request they send power back to the grid, helping maintain electricity supply across communities.
The buses can also serve as backup power sources during emergencies, providing resilience when traditional power infrastructure faces disruptions.
“These aren’t just cleaner rides for students – they’re mobile power sources strengthening the electrical grid outside of school hours,” said PSE Chief Customer and Transformation Officer Aaron August. “When buses finish transporting children for the day, they become community assets, feeding energy back into the system, a first for our service area and in our state.”
The Olympia School District will now operate an expanded fleet of electric buses, including five newly added vehicles, along with five V2G charging stations provided by Nuvve, PSE said.
The two projects represent a $612,000 PSE investment in V2G technology. The Washington Department of Commerce’s Clean Energy Community Grants program further supported this investment with a matching grant, effectively doubling available funding.
“Our schools are leading the way in getting ready for a future with cleaner energy,” said Assistant Director of the Energy Division at Washington’s Department of Commerce Jennifer Grove. “By using electric buses and smart grid technology, we can cut down on pollution, make our communities stronger, and save money on energy bills for schools. Kids will also enjoy a quieter, cleaner ride to school. Commerce is proud to support this work.”
Transitioning from emission-producing buses to electric school buses designed to serve as grid assets can eliminate CO2 emissions and transform school transportation from an environmental challenge to an environmental advantage.
This expansion brings PSE’s service area total to approximately 26 electric school buses in operation, representing a significant step toward grid modernization and emissions reduction across the region.
The vehicle-to-grid technology allows bidirectional power flow, meaning electricity can move from the grid to charge buses during off-peak hours when rates are lower, then flow back to the grid during peak demand periods when electricity is most valuable.
This capability creates revenue opportunities for school districts, which can receive compensation for providing grid services. The income can offset operational costs and make the business case for electric bus adoption more compelling.
Peak energy times typically occur during late afternoon and early evening when residential and commercial demand surges. School buses, having completed morning and afternoon routes, sit idle during these crucial hours with fully charged batteries.
The emergency backup power capability proves particularly valuable in Washington, where severe weather events can disrupt electricity supply. Winter storms, windstorms, and other natural disasters occasionally leave communities without power for extended periods.
Electric school buses with V2G capability can power critical facilities like emergency shelters, medical clinics, or community centers during outages. A single bus battery contains enough energy to power multiple households for extended periods.
The Nuvve charging stations use sophisticated software to manage power flows, communicating with PSE’s grid management systems to determine optimal charging and discharging schedules. This coordination ensures buses remain fully charged for morning routes while maximizing grid support.
The $612,000 PSE investment plus matching Department of Commerce grant totals $1.224 million dedicated to V2G infrastructure. This funding covers charging station installation, grid integration work, and associated technology.
The Clean Energy Community Grants program targets projects that advance clean energy adoption while providing tangible community benefits. Supporting electric school buses meets multiple program goals including emissions reduction, grid modernization, and public health improvement.
The quieter ride Grove mentioned addresses often-overlooked benefits of electric buses. Diesel bus engines create substantial noise pollution affecting students during rides and communities along routes. Electric motors operate nearly silently, improving comfort and reducing noise exposure.
The 26 electric buses now operating in PSE’s service area represent significant progress but remain a small fraction of total school bus fleet. Washington has thousands of school buses statewide, suggesting substantial room for expansion.
Each electric bus eliminates approximately 54,000 pounds of CO2 emissions annually compared to diesel equivalents, according to industry estimates. The 26 buses therefore prevent roughly 1.4 million pounds of annual emissions.
Beyond climate benefits, electric buses eliminate diesel particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions that harm public health, particularly affecting children who breathe exhaust during daily rides.
