2030 is an important year for both East Bay Community Energy and Kazula, an innovative energy software program, a pair that joined forces October 4 to launch a landmark Vehicle-Grid Integration program centered in smart charging.
This San Francisco company just raised $1 billion for E.V. infrastructure And it's a significant investment in a side of the E.V. market that's garnered less attention than passenger vehicles recently: commercial fleets. In heat waves that recently swept the state, the fragility of California’s grid was scorchingly apparent. Drivers of electric vehicles, and other electric utility users, were asked to voluntarily avoid charging at specific times, when the grid was struggling to sustain demand.
Kazula’s program, accessible to the consumer through an app, would monitor the grid for these strains and respond accordingly and automatically, while also taking into account user input that advises the system when you need your car— so when you show up, it's set to go. The intent is to “relieve system pressure by automatically shifting charging away from peak times.” The program's vision is to reduce grid pressure, energy costs, and carbon emissions.