Thursday, October 1, 2026
Puget Sound Energy has installed three vehicle-to-grid (V2G) fast charging stations at the Olympia School District in order to increase the capacity for the district to operate more electric buses.
When the electric vehicles (EVs) are not utilized to pick up and drop off students, they will be plugged into bidirectional fast chargers, which transfer energy to and from the power grid.
During peak energy times, when the EV buses are done with routes, Puget Sound Energy can request power be sent back to the grid, helping to keep communities humming along or serving as emergency backup power sources.
"These aren't just cleaner rides for students — they're mobile power sources strengthening the electrical grid outside of school hours," said PSE Chief Customer and Transformation Officer Aaron August in an announcenment about the charging stations.
The district is going to operate the expanded fleet of buses, including five newly added vehicles, along with a total of five V2G charging stations.
The system is operated through specialized software provided by Nuvve.
"When buses finish transporting children for the day, they become community assets, feeding energy back into the system, a first for our service area and in our state," August added.
Puget Sound Energy also has an additional installation at Snoqualmie Valley School District.
“These two projects represent a $612,000 PSE investment in V2G technology; the Washington (State) Department of Commerce's Clean Energy Community Grants program further supported this investment with a matching grant,” the announcement states.
The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the planning and implementation of clean energy technologies in the community.
OSD Executive Director of Operations Frank Wilson said the partnership with Puget Sound Energy is more than about saving energy.
“Olympia School District is committed to leading by example through energy-efficient practices and sustainable facility improvements that create healthier and more comfortable learning environments," said Wilson in the announcement.
"This collaboration reflects the district’s broader commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility, inspiring students to become the next generation of leaders in sustainability."
Wilson said the Department of Ecology’s funding provided the district with five EV buses and two of the five chargers, required infrastructure and training.
Puget Sound Energy and the district are hosting a private ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 2 at the Olympia School District Transportation Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Funding from the Washington’s Climate Commitment Act supports the V2G project, which aligns with the state's climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work to reduce climate pollution, create jobs and improve public health.
More information about Puget Sound Energy's V2G technology demonstrations is available on the company’s website.
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jimlazar
Good for the Olympia School District. The drivers and students both love the electric buses. As they quietly slide past, I appreciate them over the diesels for many reasons.
At PSE's standard rates, the electricity to charge an EV (car, truck or bus) works out to about $1/gallon equivalent. A quarter of the cost of diesel fuel, and less than one-tenth the cost of fueling a hydrogen bus.
Intercity Transit is making a big mistake investing in hydrogen buses. It is nearly universally recognized that while hydrogen is important for many applications, including fertilizer production, metallurgy, and chemical production, it is far too expense to use for surface transportation. The current retail price for hydrogen in California is about $22/kilogram -- or about $20/gallon equivalent.
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