A coalition of energy firms and utilities has launched a pilot scheme in Massachusetts to test vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which allows electric vehicles to send stored energy back into the power grid during periods of high demand. Utilities are increasingly interested in the approach because electricity demand is rising sharply due to data centres, EV adoption and heat pumps, while the shift towards intermittent renewables like wind and solar means grids need more flexible storage. Proponents argue V2G could ease pressure on the grid and help keep electricity prices down, benefiting even those who do not own an EV.

The scheme, backed by Eversource, National Grid, EnergyHub, Sunrun and the Mobility House, builds on an existing programme called ConnectedSolutions, letting EV owners with bidirectional chargers be paid when their batteries are tapped during "demand response" events such as heatwaves. Industry figures say this only requires discharging for a small number of hours each year, not daily, and describe EV batteries as the cheapest available source of flexible grid storage since it uses existing vehicles rather than requiring utilities to build new infrastructure. The initiative comes as Americans face rising energy bills, and organisers hope lessons from Massachusetts will help scale V2G technology nationwide.