ComEd Begins Testing Vehicle-to-Grid Charging Pilot with Illinois School Districts
On September 10, 2025, ComEd announced the start of testing for its groundbreaking vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging pilot with three Illinois school districts: River Trails, Troy, and Wauconda. This pilot, the first of its kind in northern Illinois, will evaluate how electric school buses equipped with bidirectional charging can not only power students’ rides but also play an active role in strengthening the electric grid.
The initiative is designed to explore how energy stored in school bus batteries can be safely discharged back to the grid during times of peak demand. By doing so, districts could one day reduce their energy costs while helping stabilize the broader system. The data collected will inform how V2G can be scaled to support communities and accelerate Illinois’ clean energy transition.
V2G is the next frontier in our work to develop clean energy programs that support our customers in lowering emissions and costs, while also finding strategies to strengthen and support the grid to accommodate growing power demand,” said Melissa Washington, SVP of Government Relations and External Affairs for ComEd. “Working in partnership with local school districts and our vendors, our latest pilot will help expand the cost-saving and environmental benefits of electric buses while testing ways to make energy storage scalable to support growing needs of our communities.”
This V2G pilot is part of ComEd’s multiyear Beneficial Electrification (BE) Plan, first approved in 2023 under the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). CEJA sets ambitious goals, including putting 1 million EVs on Illinois roads by 2030. ComEd’s BE Plan also offers rebates to offset the cost of electric fleet adoption and charging infrastructure. Earlier this year, ComEd’s second BE Plan was approved, extending funding through 2028 and prioritizing V2G research and development.
To bring the pilot to life, ComEd partnered with Resource Innovations and Nuvve. Since the three participating districts were already using Nuvve chargers and V2G-capable buses, they were ideal candidates for testing real-world applications. ComEd is also inviting other school districts across Illinois to share their interest in future V2G opportunities through an online Interest Form, with additional educational webinars and surveys planned as the pilot advances.
“As one of the early adopters of electric buses in Illinois, we’ve faced our share of challenges over the past three years. We’re hopeful that, with the continued support of the ComEd and Nuvve teams, we are finally turning a corner toward realizing the full potential of our electric bus program,” said Rick Strauss, director of transportation, Wauconda CUSD 118.
“Troy CCSD 30-C is proud to partner with ComEd on this innovative Vehicle-to-Grid pilot. Our district is committed to pursuing sustainable solutions that enhance student learning and transportation while safeguarding taxpayer resources,” said Ben Hettel, executive director of operations, Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C. “By helping advance vehicle-to-grid technology, we are investing in strategies that will deliver long-term benefits for our district and the stakeholders we serve.”
So far, ComEd’s BE Plan has helped fund EV expansion across more than 340 zip codes in Illinois, supporting rebates for over 1,800 fleet EVs, including nearly 1,500 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles such as school buses. To further support schools, ComEd has launched a dedicated educational webpage and offers free fleet electrification and capacity assessments.
School districts interested in electrifying their fleets or learning more about V2G technology can contact ComEd at SchoolsEV@comed.com.
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For more information on ComEd’s EV programs and rebates, visit comed.com/EV
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