Over 200 U.S. Electric School Buses Feed Power Back to Grid During Summer Break to Ease Heat-Driven Demand

Over 200 electric school buses across the United States were not fully idled during summer break. Instead, they fed electricity back into the grid using vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology during periods of high temperatures and surging power demand, helping ease strain on regional power supplies. These buses are deployed across multiple states from California to North Carolina, with hundreds more expected to join the system soon. According to data from the World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative, the U.S. currently has approximately 6,700 electric school buses, about 230 of which are already participating in fully operational V2G programs. Collectively, they can deliver up to roughly 8 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity to the grid in a single discharge cycle. By comparison, PJM—the largest regional grid operator in the U.S.—saw peak electricity demand exceed 160,000 megawatts this week, serving 67 million people amid record-breaking heatwaves across much of the country. Electric school buses typically feature large-capacity batteries, with some models exceeding 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh). They can charge during off-peak hours and discharge electricity back to the grid during peak demand periods. Since most school buses sit idle during summer vacation—a period that coincides precisely with summer peak electricity demand—they represent a promising source of flexible energy storage. To date, at least 31 U.S. utilities and 21 states have launched V2G pilot or operational programs involving electric school buses. Over the next few years, the national fleet of electric school buses is projected to grow to around 14,600 vehicles—about 3% of all school buses—with many equipped for V2G capabilities. However, for electric school buses to meaningfully impact grid supply and demand, their contribution must increase substantially. Consulting firm ICF estimates that by 2030, the U.S. grid will need an additional 445,000 megawatts of generation capacity, driven in part by the rapid expansion of data centers. Widespread adoption of V2G technology still faces significant hurdles, including high upfront costs, lack of standardized technical protocols, and regulatory frameworks and industry guidelines that may take several years to mature. Additionally, bus owners and operators worry that frequent charging and discharging cycles could accelerate battery degradation and potentially void battery warranties. Although electric school buses produce zero tailpipe emissions, some critics oppose vehicle electrification and the use of public funds for alternative energy initiatives, arguing that mass charging could further burden the grid. To address these concerns, some school districts have begun installing solar panels to power bus charging.