BC Hydro has introduced a groundbreaking pilot project that will turn electric school buses into mobile energy resources, marking the first real-world deployment of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in Canada.
The initiative will explore how these buses can supply electricity back to the grid during peak demand and provide backup power when outages occur.
Announced by BC Hydro on Friday, the pilot represents a significant step in British Columbia’s push toward modernizing its electricity system. The program is being delivered in partnership with Lynch Bus Lines, Fuse Power Management, and several clean tech collaborators. It expands upon a smaller-scale demonstration at Powertech Labs in 2023, where engineers proved that a single bus could successfully transfer power to the grid using bidirectional charging.
“This exciting pilot reaffirms British Columbia’s leadership in clean energy innovation,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “V2G technology has the potential to transform how we manage electricity, making our system more resilient, efficient and sustainable for generations to come.”
How the Program Works
Under the pilot, the buses will continue their core duty of transporting students during the day but will serve a dual role when parked. Each electric bus is equipped with a battery capable of storing up to 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy — enough to supply electricity to approximately 75 single-family homes for nearly two hours.
When not in service, the vehicles can be tapped to help stabilize the grid during periods of high demand or provide emergency backup power to critical facilities such as schools, hospitals, or community centers, much like Tesla’s Powerwall and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program. This flexibility could reduce reliance on diesel generators while adding resilience to B.C.’s energy infrastructure.
Funding and Partnerships
BC Hydro has committed $200,000 toward the project, while additional funding and resources are coming from clean technology partners. NorthX Climate Tech is contributing $860,000, PacifiCan has provided $50,000 through the BC Net Zero Innovation Network, and RIDE Canada has loaned electric buses for the program. Fuse Power Management is supplying technical expertise, ensuring the pilot runs smoothly.
What’s Next
Following the completion of the pilot, BC Hydro intends to expand the program by developing charging hubs at strategic locations across the province. These hubs would make it easier for electric school buses — and eventually other electric vehicles — to serve as mobile power sources, reinforcing the grid during critical times.
