Rising Tides of Interoperability

Stephanie Leach explores the critical role of interoperability, detailing the strain that rapid EV adoption places on our aging grid, and outlining the industry collaboration required to turn vehicles into reliable energy assets.

As electric load grows from accelerating EV adoption, expanding data centers, and the broader electrification of our economy, it’s placing increasing stress on our nation's aging electric infrastructure. The grid was not designed to absorb this level of new demand at this pace. As an industry, we're in a constant balancing act of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by moving away from fossil fuels while ensuring we don't electrify so quickly that the grid can't keep up.

Having spent 15 years of my career working for the oldest gas and electric company in America, I know firsthand the challenges of balancing investments in aging infrastructure with the need to advance clean energy goals. During my time at Baltimore Gas & Electric Company, I helped launch one of the nation's most comprehensive transportation electrification portfolios, focused on increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles on Maryland roads while also managing the load from those vehicles to maintain reliable electric service for all customers.

It was through this work that I truly began to understand the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats. While not everyone may own an electric vehicle, we all benefit from cleaner air, quieter streets, and a healthier environment. But realizing those benefits at scale requires more than simply getting EVs on the road. It's up to those of us in the transportation electrification ecosystem to ensure that these vehicles become assets to the grid rather than liabilities. It's not enough to build an electric vehicle that plugs into the grid; you have to make it work for the grid.

When designed and managed properly, EV batteries can be charged during periods of low grid demand, helping to avoid system strain and reduce the need for costly infrastructure upgrades. In some cases, they can even supply energy back to homes, businesses, or the grid when electricity is needed most. The potential is huge. But unlocking that potential requires a concept our industry still struggles with: interoperability.

Over the years, I've spoken to countless vendors that promised broad connectivity across vehicle brands, charging equipment, and customer technologies. On paper, the numbers looked impressive. In practice, however, too many vehicles remained disconnected, unmanaged, or only partially integrated. Every unmanaged EV represents a missed opportunity to shift load, reduce peak demand, and support grid reliability - around 1 kW per EV. When enough of those vehicles are left outside of managed charging programs, utilities are forced to plan for higher peak demand and potentially accelerate investments in electric infrastructure that could otherwise be deferred.

I've seen firsthand how frustrating this can be - I’ve lived it. Utilities invest in managed charging programs expecting to influence charging behavior across their service territory, only to discover that a meaningful percentage of vehicles can't participate because of technical limitations, proprietary systems, or fragmented data-sharing approaches. The result is a patchwork of connected, disconnected, and entirely invisible assets that makes it harder to achieve the grid benefits everyone is counting on. This is where interoperability becomes critical.

Interoperability allows EVs, charging stations, utilities, and software platforms to communicate through common frameworks and open protocols. Rather than relying on a series of proprietary, one-off integrations, interoperability creates a more open ecosystem where data can be shared securely, and charging can be coordinated consistently across a diverse range of vehicles and equipment.

Furthermore, the same argument applies to other flexible loads in the home: solar, batteries, and HVAC systems. Interoperability enables smart orchestration across the home, such as charging an EV with free, clean solar energy, or exporting battery power to offset a system peak. Better for customers, better for the grid.

While some companies continue to favor closed systems and direct integrations alone, those approaches often limit scale and equity. No single company can solve the grid challenges we face on its own. If we want EVs to become a meaningful grid resource, the industry must make it easier for technologies to work together.

Having managed EV programs for much of the last decade, I've seen the barriers that a closed ecosystem creates. When utilities can't reach every EV on their system, they can't fully manage the load. When software providers can't access the data they need, it results in a frustrating customer experience. And when manufacturers, charging providers, and grid operators work in silos, everyone loses opportunities to maximize the value of transportation electrification.

While there is growing momentum around interoperability standards, we still have work to do. The industry needs a shared framework that prioritizes open communication, secure data exchange, and collaboration across the transportation and energy sectors. Utilities, automakers, charging companies, software providers, and standards organizations all have a role to play in creating an ecosystem where EVs can seamlessly support both customer needs and grid reliability.

The challenges facing our energy system are too large for any one company to solve alone. As responsible stewards of the grid, its customers, and the planet, we owe it to future generations to work together to harness the full potential of EVs and other distributed energy resources to create a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

It's time for the tides to rise and for the industry to rise with them.