– Gridtractor, Monarch Tractor, and Borg Warner demonstrated vehicle-to-grid capabilities from a Monarch MK-V tractor
– The consortium team received $3 million in funding from the California Energy Commission to develop Vehicle to Building technology
– The integrated system will enable users to minimize charging costs, earn revenue, and save on fuel from electric vehicle operations
Gridtractor, Monarch Tractor, and Borg Warner have collaborated to demonstrate the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities of a Monarch MK-V tractor, receiving funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC) for the development of Vehicle to Building technology. This marks the first deployment of V2G capabilities from a fully electric Monarch MK-V tractor and was carried out at PG&E’s Applied Technology Services centre in California. The technology developed includes high-power export from the tractor and integration with Borg Warner’s 60kW DC Fast Charger.
The Monarch MK-V utility vehicle functions as a versatile electrification tool and a powerful electric generator, allowing for high-capacity energy exports. The integrated system will provide owners with cost savings on charging, revenue generation through participation in dynamic rate programs, and fuel savings from EV operations by utilizing Gridtractor’s energy market integrations and load scheduling applications.
The system will also enable automated load management, coordinating charging and discharging with other site loads to optimize existing electrical services without exceeding capacity. The partners highlight the flexible, scalable IoT capabilities and native OCPP-based architecture of the platform, allowing it to connect with energy markets or programs through a Vehicle Grid Integration (VGI) application.