Grid edge

EV charging

NYC’s grid is stressed. A ‘smart’ EV charging program aims to help

Con Ed’s revamped SmartCharge program will tap direct-to-EV communications to track and pay drivers for charging at times that reduce grid strain.

Jeff St. John . 5 April 2023

A hand holding a phone with a mobile app with charging status and incentive options for a Tesla plugged into an EV charger — Ev.energy’s software taps on-board EV telematics to reward New York City EV drivers for charging when power is plentiful and avoiding charging when the grid is under stress. (ev.energy)

Podcast

What the grid can learn from the internet

When will utilities finally unlock the full benefits of distributed energy resources?

Play

11 March 2022
EV charging

GM and PG&E to test how EVs can power homes during blackouts

Despite the hype from automakers, vehicle-to-home charging is in its infancy. What will it take to scale?

Jeff St. John . 8 March 2022
Grid edge

Goldman Sachs and Shell bet $75M that chain stores can boost grid resiliency

GridPoint will use the funds to expand its work beyond HVAC and lighting controls.

Jeff St. John . 7 March 2022
Grid edge

EnergyHub buys Packetized Energy to get millions of thermostats and EVs to help balance the grid

Utilities need to orchestrate energy-smart devices at a massive scale. This startup's radically distributed approach could help.

Jeff St. John . 3 March 2022
Grid edge

Virtual Peaker’s platform taps home devices to help utilities balance the grid

The scrappy Kentucky-based startup has landed $16.6M and a slew of big contracts.

Jeff St. John . 25 February 2022
Electrification

New tools and tech to prep your electrical panel for an all-electric home

Solar, batteries, EVs and electric heat pumps can overload home electrical panels. Lots of companies are coming up with solutions.

Jeff St. John . 22 February 2022
Grid edge

The country’s first neighborhood microgrid is coming online in Chicago

A network of solar panels, generators, batteries and more will boost resilience for Bronzeville, a historic Black neighborhood.

Jeff St. John . 9 February 2022
Solar

PearlX has a plan to bring solar and batteries to apartment buildings

Multifamily housing lags single-family homes in solar and storage. A novel project aims to reach this market.

Jeff St. John . 14 January 2022
Grid edge

Kohler Power buys startup that uses game-theory math to manage microgrids

Heila Technologies has a novel approach to balancing solar, EVs, batteries and generators.

Jeff St. John . 12 January 2022
Grid edge

Smart meters were supposed to free your energy data. Arcadia wants to finish the job

The community-solar stalwart makes a move into the utility software space.

Eric Wesoff . 10 January 2022