Electric trucks may have a second job beyond moving freight. Electrek reports that Oregon utility Portland General Electric is highlighting the environmental, health and grid benefits of electrifying medium and heavy-duty commercial trucks, calling the battery-backed big rigs batteries on wheels. The report includes a video demonstration of the idea.
The concept is known as vehicle-to-grid or vehicle-to-load. A large battery in a parked truck can supply electricity back to a building or the grid during outages or peak demand, then recharge when electricity is cheap or plentiful. Because heavy trucks carry very large batteries, they could provide meaningful backup capacity, particularly for depots and fleets.
I have only seen the summary, so I do not know the details of the demonstration, such as the power levels, the trucks used or how the system would be paid for. In practice, such schemes need compatible equipment, agreements between fleets and utilities, and a way to ensure that trucks are charged when drivers need them. Battery wear is another consideration.
The idea fits with wider changes in the vehicle industry. Electric trucks are being developed by several companies, and the question of charging depots is critical to their adoption. If trucks can earn money by supporting the grid, it could improve the economics. For readers outside the U.S., the concept is of interest wherever grids face strain from heat or storms. Watch for pilot results, utility programmes and regulations that determine whether vehicle batteries can be paid for supplying power. Fleet operators who are weighing electric trucks may want to ask utilities about such programmes before they buy.
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