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April 11, 2025 – UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE: ULS), a global authority in applied safety science, has rolled out a dedicated certification program for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, marking a major step toward turning the growing fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) into a reliable resource for the nation’s power grid.
The new program evaluates the safety, performance, and interoperability of bidirectional charging systems that allow parked EVs to feed electricity back into the grid when demand spikes or supply tightens. Utilities are increasingly exploring V2G capabilities to manage load, balance renewable energy fluctuations, and defer expensive infrastructure upgrades.
Grid operators across the U.S. are under pressure to handle surging electricity demand driven by data centers, manufacturing reshoring, and widespread electrification. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that summer peak demand could rise by nearly 10% by 2028. Simultaneously, rapid wind and solar deployment creates volatility that requires flexible storage.
EVs, which sit parked 95% of the time, represent a massive distributed battery pool. According to a 2024 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report, if just 10% of U.S. EVs support V2G by 2030, they could provide roughly 20 GW of grid capacity—equivalent to about 20 natural gas peaker plants. UL Solutions’ certification is designed to give utilities and consumers confidence that these bidirectional systems meet rigorous safety and data‑exchange standards.
UL Solutions’ V2G certification program examines critical aspects: electrical safety under high‑power transfer, charge‑discharge cycling durability, communication protocol compliance (including IEEE 2030.5 and SAE J3072), and grid‑interconnection protection. Manufacturers that pass can display the UL V2G mark, simplifying procurement for utilities and fleet operators.
“This certification isn’t just about hardware safety—it’s about ensuring every kilowatt‑hour flowing to and from the grid is stable, predictable, and meets the same reliability standards we expect from traditional generation,” explained a UL Solutions senior director in a statement.
The program builds on UL’s long‑standing safety standards for EV chargers (UL 2202, UL 2594) and energy storage systems (UL 9540), adding a layer specific to bidirectional vehicle‑grid interaction.
For EV owners, V2G certification could translate into new revenue streams. Programs like California’s Emergency Load Reduction Program and pilot tariff structures in New York and Texas already compensate drivers who discharge during peak events. A certified system reduces risk of interoperability issues and ensures compliance with state interconnection rules.
Utilities gain a standardized way to aggregate thousands of small battery resources. Julie Blunden, a former grid integration advisor for the California Energy Commission, noted: “The lack of a uniform certification has been a major barrier for utilities to trust and invest in V2G. UL Solutions’ move gives them a benchmark to evaluate technology from different automakers and charger providers.”
Already, several automakers—including Ford with its F‑150 Lightning, and General Motors with its Ultium platform—have expressed interest in pursuing UL certification for their bidirectional products. Charger manufacturers like Wallbox and Enphase are also expected to seek the mark for their home‑scale V2G units.
The announcement follows recent federal policy signals: the Department of Energy’s Vehicle‑Grid Integration initiative allocated $25 million for interoperability standards in 2024, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is expected to finalize rules making compensation for V2G easier across wholesale markets.
UL Solutions plans to expand the program to include bidirectional charging hubs for commercial fleets and heavy‑duty vehicles later this year. As EV adoption accelerates—the International Energy Agency forecasts 55 million EVs on U.S. roads by 2035—V2G certification could become as standard as crash‑test safety ratings.
For the grid, the timing is critical. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) warned in its 2024 Long‑Term Reliability Assessment that nearly half of the U.S. faces elevated risk of electricity shortfalls during extreme weather by 2028. V2G, backed by robust certification, offers a dispatchable, low‑carbon tool to close that gap.
