Oakland Electric School Buses Power 1,000 Homes
A fleet of 74 electric school buses has successfully returned 1.7 gigawatt-hours of energy to the Oakland grid.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Between 2024 and 2026, a fleet of 74 electric school buses in Oakland returned 1.7 gigawatt-hours of stored energy to the local power grid. This vehicle-to-grid initiative effectively powered 1,000 homes during the two-year period.
Why it matters
The project demonstrates how idle electric school buses can stabilize the grid by utilizing energy arbitrage, buying power when prices are low and selling it during demand spikes. This model creates new revenue streams while supporting utility infrastructure.
The system features a total energy storage capacity of 11.5 megawatt-hours and supports a simultaneous discharge capacity of 2 megawatts. Each individual charger delivers up to 480 kilowatts with an uptime exceeding 99.5%.
The players
Tellus Power
This company provides power infrastructure solutions and collaborated on the installation of the vehicle-to-grid charging systems.
Zum
This organization specializes in modern student transportation services and operated the fleet used in this energy initiative.
The details
Tellus Power and Zum installed specialized vehicle-to-grid chargers that allow buses to interact directly with the power supply. The project relies on energy arbitrage to manage electricity flows between the fleet and the municipal network.
Timeline
The energy return period occurred between 2024 and 2026.
Roadmap
This project signals a major transition where municipal fleets move beyond simple transportation to become mobile battery assets for the utility grid. As manufacturers expand these capabilities, it positions heavy-duty electric vehicles as essential components of future urban energy resilience.
The project demonstrates that electric fleet assets can help manage local utility demand, potentially reducing strain on the grid during peak usage hours. Residents may eventually see broader grid stability as this model scales to include additional vehicle types.
The takeaway
Large-scale electric vehicle fleets offer significant untapped potential for balancing regional energy demands. Cities can leverage existing infrastructure to turn public transit vehicles into active participants in the power market.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts at the Electric Vehicles section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MATR.
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Do you support using electric school buses and other fleets to help power your local grid?
