Existing law authorizes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), in consultation with the State Air Resources Board and the Public Utilities Commission, to require any weight class of battery electric vehicle to be bidirectional capable, as defined, if it determines there is a sufficiently compelling beneficial bidirectional-capable use case to the battery electric vehicle operator and electrical grid. Existing law defines various terms for this purpose, including “electric vehicle service equipment.” Existing law authorizes the Energy Commission to periodically update the definitions of those defined terms to ensure that the definitions align with current technologies in bidirectional charging and account for ongoing innovation.

This bill would require the Energy Commission to establish the Electric Vehicle Service Equipment Standards Advisory Board to develop, and recommend to the Energy Commission, state standards for electric vehicle service equipment to ensure safety and reliability throughout the state.