One specific design enhancement Zum made for V2G was using busbars, copper plates, for the transmission of energy.
V2G & School Busing
While there remains more development and utility support to be had. Zum COO Vivek Garg is bullish on V2G. He explained that because school buses
are used perhaps 40 percent of the day, the vehicles are prime candidates for transfering electricity back to the grid when not in use. Plus, he said, most school buses especially in urban and suburban areas typically drive 60 to 80 miles a day, which leaves a lot of energy left on the battery that can meet high demand. “This idea about [the] iconic school bus, that
has transported kids for hundreds of years, can now also become a source of energy,” he said. “It was very appealing to us, and technologically we understand that really well. We are a tech- nology company first. For us, it was very natural to go down this journey.”
various companies and evaluating them. He shared that at that time, it wasn’t about “making a mark,” or “being first.” Instead, he said his goal was tackling this opportu- nity in the best way possible. “What are the optimal solutions, and given my doc-
torate [in business administration] background, how can I future proof this piece for the next 10 to 15 years?” he explained, adding the project was supposed to have been fully implemented in 2025. That puts Zum one year ahead of schedule. He said executing V2G is similar to the submarines he
worked on. “Given my background in the diesel-electric submarines, I understood the system very well,” he ex- plained. “And therefore, translating it on [the] ground, I would say the baseline remained the same. It’s just the technology mounts that have changed over the years.” Specific design enhancements to make V2G work
safely include having a good flow of current. Zum uses busbars, copper plates that allow the current flow, and also co-opted submarine technology. Instead of wires, Zum uses the busbars for the transmission of energy from the switchgear to the transformer. The second enhancement Zum made was using
a modular design, not a continuous design, which Prakash said allows for safer operation. “There are various other things also related to the charger we chose,” he added. “It had two power modules
72 School Transportation News • JULY 2024
instead of one. That meant if one module goes bad, the second one takes over. I will have at least 70 percent of the rated capacity.” These innovations result in the ampere interruptible
(current) capacity, or AIC, being set at 55,000 amps. The AIC describes the maximum fault current that a protec- tive device like a circuit breaker or fuse can safely clear without damaging equipment. The AIC is typically set around 65,000 amps for a household. Prakash added that V2G technology is rather new
and requires charger modifications. He explained that California has set standards on software and hardware for charging. He noted that Zum started working with a charging manufacturer to develop a solution from the ground up. “It’s a partnership,” he said. “In conversations we
thought, how can we achieve this, and while we are do- ing this, can we do this also? Partnership. I insist on that word, it means a lot. And therefore, we could reach that point together.”
These enhancements will result in providing 2.1 gigawatt hours of energy annually back to the power grid at scale. He shared that one of the biggest lessons he’s learned
through this process is that there are opportunities to partner with people and companies that do good work and have the same mission as he and Zum do. He added that Zum is not picky about its partners. Instead, it seeks
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