GM thinks EVs can help offset AI’s energy suck with vehicle-to-grid tech
General Motors announced new vehicle-to-grid capabilities and an energy storage system strategy to help stabilize the electrical grid against the growing electricity demand from AI data centers. The company is partnering with utilities in California and Michigan to test these technologies. GM is also advocating for regulatory support to formalize V2G infrastructure.
General Motors (GM) unveiled new initiatives at a San Francisco event aimed at leveraging electric vehicle (EV) batteries and energy storage to enhance grid stability and address the escalating electricity demands of AI data centers. The automaker announced the activation of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities for its EV and home energy customers, enabling EVs to send power back to the grid during peak demand. GM also introduced a commercial energy storage system strategy, focusing on newly developed sodium-ion batteries for industrial applications, and launched "Energy Pass" to simplify public EV charging across multiple networks.
GM believes that the collective capacity of EV batteries, with over 250,000 bidirectional-capable Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC EVs on American roads, could significantly contribute to grid balancing. The company is actively testing this concept through partnerships: with PG&E in Northern California, aiming for a 52,000-EV fleet for grid balancing by 2030, and with DTE Energy in Michigan, using employee homes for real-world V2G stress tests.
Sterling Anderson, GM's chief product officer, emphasized a future where EVs, their batteries, and power grids work synergistically. GM Energy VP Wade Sheffer urged regulators to formalize V2G infrastructure, highlighting its potential to lower energy costs, provide financial returns for consumers, and improve grid reliability. The company is also collaborating with New York-based Peak Energy on sodium-ion battery development and with Redwood Materials for US-manufactured and second-life EV battery storage.