A bus operator with a fleet of 1,400 electric vehicles has kicked off a smart charging trial across its depot network. Rather than charging all buses simultaneously, the system adjusts when each vehicle draws power, responding to real-time grid conditions and shifting demand away from peak hours.
Smart charging at scale offers a compelling value proposition for grid operators: large depot fleets represent significant, controllable loads that can act as virtual demand-response assets. Instead of requiring costly grid infrastructure upgrades, operators can monetise flexibility while cutting their own energy bills.
Across the EU, integrating heavy transport electrification with grid services is gaining regulatory momentum. The revised Electricity Market Design directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive both encourage demand flexibility, making smart charging for bus and truck depots an increasingly attractive commercial opportunity.
If successful, this trial could serve as a blueprint for other public transport operators and logistics companies looking to deploy large EV fleets responsibly. The ability to provide grid-balancing services may also improve the business case for fleet electrification in markets where grid connection costs are a major barrier.
Source: Electric bus depots to use smart charging to support the grid - The Driven· Based on source, with AI-assisted rewriting.
Related articles
GM bets on sodium-ion storage and V2G at home
At its June 2026 Empower event in San Francisco, GM announced US-developed sodium-ion grid-scale battery storage and software-enabled V2G for existing EV owners — two moves that could reshape how homes and grids store renewable energy.
150 Power Plants: The Hidden Grid Cost of Weakening EU EV Targets
Scaling back the EU's electric vehicle targets could force Europe to build the equivalent of 150 new power plants just to keep the electricity grid balanced. EVs aren't just cars — as mobile battery storage, they are a critical and low-cost tool for integrating solar and wind energy into the grid.
Electric Commuter Bikes: What to Look for in an E-Bike
Electric bikes are becoming a serious option for daily urban commuting across Europe. The right e-bike offers programmable assist levels, a reliable battery, and enough versatility to handle varied terrain.
Battery storage booms, but Australia's grid edge lags behind
Australia's Cheaper Home Batteries Program has added 10.7 GWh of distributed storage to the grid, while EV sales surge to one in six new cars. Yet the country's biggest challenge is no longer on the supply side — it's the low-voltage distribution network that can't keep pace with simultaneous demand from EVs, home batteries and data centres.
Comments
0 commentsBe the first to comment.