At Oregon's first fleet-focused electric ride-and-drive, utility Pacific General Electric (PGE) pushed back against the claim that EV charging will overload the grid. Karla Hendrickson, PGE's transportation electrification manager, described battery-powered commercial trucks as 'batteries on wheels' and 'grid ready assets' that can help manage high-demand periods and keep costs low. The event included Class 8 electric semis, medium-duty last-mile delivery trucks, and battery-powered construction equipment such as wheel loaders and excavators.
PGE is already testing vehicle-to-grid dispatch from a fleet of electric school buses, which Hendrickson highlighted as especially suited to grid services because their schedules are predictable and they sit parked for long stretches. The utility's interest comes as Oregon has nearly 150,000 registered EVs, with medium- and heavy-duty fleet electrification still in its early stages.
Gerick Kransky of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality noted that heavy trucks and buses make up a relatively small share of the state's vehicle fleet, but they represent a disproportionate share of transportation emissions. That makes electrifying commercial fleets a matter of both grid flexibility and air quality.