Massachusetts launches V2X demonstration with free bi-directional chargers
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) has announced the selected participants for what it describes as a first-of-its-kind Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Demonstration programme in the United States. The initiative will provide bi-directional electric vehicle chargers at no cost to school districts, municipal projects and residential participants across the US state of Massachusetts.
MassCEC will set up and commission all bi-directional charging stations by summer 2026 and will collect operational data throughout the year. These will be installed by The Mobility House, as reported last year. The agency plans to publish a comprehensive V2X guidebook in late 2026 covering system design, charging management, cost structures and regulatory considerations to support replication and scaling in other regions.
Participants include five school districts – Acton-Boxborough, Arlington, Boston, Concord and Lincoln – as well as four municipal projects in Sterling, Needham, Plymouth and Warwick, and 30 residents across the state. Funding comes from the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council, which allocated $50 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to electric vehicle charging initiatives in Massachusetts.
MassCEC says the demonstration will help accelerate V2X adoption and position EVs as mobile energy storage assets within the electricity system. During a demand response event, the programme is expected to deliver more than one megawatt of power back to the grid – enough to offset the electricity consumption of around 300 average US households for one hour.
“Virtual Power Plants are the future of our electrical grid, and I couldn’t be more excited to see this program take off,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We’re putting the power of innovation directly in the hands of Massachusetts residents. Bi-directional charging unlocks new ways to protect communities from outages and lower costs for families and public fleets.”
MassCEC Interim CEO Dr Jennifer Le Blond added: “The Vehicle-to-Everything Demonstration program shows how Massachusetts is leading the way in practical, scalable technological innovation that creates economic opportunities. By enabling EVs to serve as energy resources, we’re helping families and schools take control of their energy. This is a real-world step toward a more reliable and affordable clean energy future.”
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