PG&E Expands California V2X Program With New Vehicle and Charger Options
The utility adds Kia, Volvo, Polestar, and Nissan to its eligible vehicle list while offering up to $13,000 in additional state-backed incentives.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has announced a significant expansion of its Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) program, introducing new eligible electric vehicles and charging hardware for customers in California.
What Happened
The utility has updated its Eligible Products List to include four new automakers: Kia, Volvo, Polestar, and Nissan. These additions join Ford, Tesla, and GM, which were already represented on the list. Specific vehicle and charger combinations are now supported, including the Nissan Leaf (2018–2025) paired with a dcbel Ara charger, and the Kia EV9 (2024 and newer) paired with a Wallbox Quasar 2 charger. Other newly eligible models include the Volvo EX90 (2025), Polestar 3 (2025), Chevrolet Bolt (2027), Cadillac Celestiq (2025 and newer), and Cadillac Escalade IQL (2025 and newer).
The program also added two new approved partners: PowerFlex, a commercial solar installer and EV charging provider, and Bidirectional Energy, which provides software connecting EVs, bidirectional chargers, and utility programs. Residential incentives remain at $2,500 upfront, rising to $3,000 for customers in disadvantaged communities. An additional $1,500 Early Adopter Incentive is available for the first 250 customers to enroll. Furthermore, up to $13,000 in additional incentives may be accessed through California Energy Commission grant funding, subject to eligibility requirements.
Why It Matters
V2X technology enables compatible EVs to function as mobile batteries, providing backup power to homes during outages and returning energy to the grid during periods of high demand. David Almeida, Director of Clean Energy Transportation at PG&E, stated that the expansion is aimed at increasing customer choice and helping them utilize their EVs as both home backup and grid assets. This move reflects the industry’s gradual shift from pilot projects to commercial implementations, though support remains limited to specific hardware combinations. On the commercial side, PG&E continues to support school districts in Fremont, Oakland, and San Francisco in transitioning to bidirectionally capable electric bus fleets, offering upfront incentives ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 depending on charger capacity and community status.
The Bottom Line
PG&E’s expanded V2X program broadens access to bidirectional charging for a wider range of EV owners and commercial entities, leveraging financial incentives to accelerate the adoption of vehicle-to-grid technology in California.
