Empowering Sustainable Student Transportation with Tellus Power's V2G / V2X Technology.

In a groundbreaking initiative, TellusPower has partnered with Zum to revolutionise student transportation in Oakland, California. By deploying advanced Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) / Vehicle-to-Anything (V2X) / technology, this collaboration delivers clean, efficient transport for students while enhancing grid stability and supporting environmental sustainability. 

Overview

Zum, a transportation-as-a-service startup, has launched the first all-electric school bus fleet for the Oakland Unified School District. The fleet consists of 74 electric buses, each fitted with bidirectional chargers manufactured by Tellus Power. These chargers allow the buses to draw power from and feed energy back into the grid, optimising energy use and enhancing grid stability.

"Today marks the next phase in our evolution."

— Ritu Narayan, CEO of Zum

Tellus Power's Role

TellusPower supplied the V2G-enabled chargers at the heart of this project. Designed specifically for school buses, these chargers enable bidirectional energy flow, allowing the buses to act as mobile energy storage units. This technology not only powers the buses but also returns energy to the grid during peak demand, improving grid reliability.

Technological Innovation

The bidirectional chargers supplied by Tellus Power are designed for efficiency and reliability. Each charger can discharge up to 50 kilowatt-hours on a working day and up to 111 kilowatt-hours on a non-working day, utilising 80% of the bus battery’s capacity. This technology enables buses to support grid stability without compromising their primary role in student transport.

"That’s good for the economics of electric school buses. And it’s also good for the grid."

— Patti Poppe, CEO of Pacific Gas & Electric

The implementation of Tellus Power's V2G / V2X technology in Zum's electric bus fleet has led to several significant positive outcomes.

Environmental Impact

The all-electric fleet is projected to eliminate 25,000 tons of harmful emissions, improving air quality and health outcomes for students and the community.

Grid Support

By returning energy to the grid during peak demand periods, the buses help stabilise the energy network, contributing to overall grid resilience.

Economic Efficiency

The V2G / V2X capability provides an opportunity for cost savings by offsetting energy expenses and generating potential revenue through energy sales back to the grid.