The Maryland General Assembly has passed a law that would create a bidirectional EV charging program aimed at allowing EVs to not only draw power from the grid, but also supply electricity back, effectively turning EVs into mobile energy storage units.
The Distributed Renewable Integration and Vehicle Electrification (DRIVE) Act (H.B. 1256) was passed by the Maryland General Assembly this week, and will require the Public Service Commission to put forward new regulations by May 2025. The DRIVE Act is now awaiting Gov. Wes Moore’s signature.
The law would make Maryland the first state in the nation to require electric utility companies to allow vehicle-to-grid systems to interconnect to the state’s electric distribution network. The law also requires electric utility companies to implement pilot programs that pay the owners of EVs with bidirectional charging.
Additionally, the DRIVE Act would allow for the creation of virtual power plants, or networks of small energy-producing or energy storage devices, such as EVs, heat pumps and solar and energy storage systems, that can be pooled together to inject power into the grid at peak times.
The legislation also expands use of “time of use” electric rates, letting Maryland residents charge EVs during off-peak hours.
“The DRIVE Act shows that Maryland is serious about getting its electric grid ready for an electrified future,” said Nick Bibby, Maryland State Lead for Advanced Energy United. “This legislation will help residents and businesses tap into the unique capabilities of clean energy resources and electric vehicles to lower energy costs and support the resiliency of the electric grid.”
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