Overview
- A peer‑reviewed University of Michigan and Carnegie Mellon study in Environmental Science & Technology concludes that coordinating EV smart charging with vehicle‑to‑grid exports can cut power‑sector emissions enough to offset charging, resulting in 'negative vehicle emissions' under modeled scenarios.
- The analysis shows EVs can soak up otherwise‑curtailed wind and solar and discharge during peaks, which encourages additional renewable buildout that displaces coal and natural gas beyond the hours when vehicles charge.
- Authors report conservative assumptions, including no new federal renewable incentives, and find the main conclusions hold even when large stationary battery deployments are allowed in the scenarios.
- The study indicates drivers could sell stored energy back to the grid to recoup some costs, with public‑health benefits from reduced air pollution as fossil generation is avoided.
- A USA Today real‑world test powered a home for a week using a GM Sierra EV and the company’s Energy Home System, highlighting feasibility, current high costs, and emerging incentives such as Connecticut’s rebates of up to $16,000 and utility programs that pay for sharing stored power.