Charging Forward

Maryland Just Made It Way Easier for Your EV to Power the Grid

Wait, My Car Can Give Energy Back to the Grid?!!

Yes. Welcome to the bidirectional charging era—aka V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid). Think of it like your EV doing more than just getting you to Trader Joe’s. When plugged in, certain electric vehicles can now push energy back to the grid. It’s like Venmo, but for electricity.

And Maryland just became the first state in the U.S. to officially say, “Cool, we’re ready for that.”

What Maryland Did—and Why It’s a Big Deal

The Maryland Public Service Commission adopted the first-ever comprehensive interconnection rules for V2G systems—translation: EVs and utilities can finally play nice. Until now, plugging your EV into the grid (and not just for charging) was kind of like trying to join a private club with no dress code, no guest list, and no door.

Now? The door’s open, the path is clear, and there are two ways to get in.

The Two-Pathway Party

EVs that want to push power to the grid (aka act like mini power plants parked in your garage) can do so under one of two approved certification paths:

Option 1:
The charger is UL 1741 SC certified + your vehicle meets SAE J3072 standards.
(Think: your car and charger speak the same language, and it’s grid-friendly.)

Option 2:
The charger + vehicle are certified as a complete “Distributed Energy Resource” system under UL 1741 SB.
(More like: your car and charger show up as a certified duo, already vetted for grid-readiness.)

Both paths = safe, reliable, utility-approved. No red tape nightmares. No guesswork.

A Smart Rule About What Not to Say

Maryland also did something super savvy: it didn’t define what a “V2G-capable” EV is. Why does that matter?

Because if they had, it might’ve triggered every Nissan Leaf, Ford Lightning, Chevy Silverado EV, Cadillac Lyriq, and even Tesla Cybertruck to go file unnecessary interconnection paperwork—even if their owners had no plans to send energy back.

Translation: Maryland wrote rules that empower action, not burden potential.

So, What’s Next?

This move is a huge green light for automakers, EVSE providers, and everyday EV drivers who want to do more than charge. It’s also a key moment for grid resilience. During heatwaves, blackouts, and peak energy crunches, a fleet of parked EVs could be the superhero backup system we didn’t know we had.

With clear, predictable pathways, V2G can now go from pilot project to everyday practice—and Maryland just became the blueprint.

Why You Should Care (Even If You Don’t Live in Maryland)

If you’ve got a bidirectional-capable EV (or are thinking about one), this sets a national precedent. Other states are watching. And the more they follow suit, the more your car becomes part of something bigger: a cleaner, smarter, more stable energy future.

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