Recharge-OK
Revitalizing Oklahoma with Electric Energy
Advancing Oklahoma community energy resilience through V2G-enabled electric school buses.
Recharge-OK is an NSF-funded Civic Innovation Challenge project led by the University of Ok lahoma Health Sciences Center, exploring how Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) electric school buses can strengthen community resilience during tornadoes, ice storms, heatwaves, and other severe weather events.
In collaboration with local school districts, utilities, and community partners in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Supported by the NSF Civic Innovation Challenge (Award No. 2527318).
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Why It Matters
Oklahoma communities face growing energy risks from severe weather events such as tornadoes, ice storms, and heatwaves. Recharge-OK explores how electric school buses equipped with Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology can help strengthen resilience for schools and local communities.
Severe Weather Risk
Extreme weather can disrupt power systems, interrupt school operations, and affect daily life across Oklahoma.
Community Impact
Schools are important community assets and may serve as support hubs during emergencies and periods of high demand.
Why V2G School Buses
Electric school buses with bi-directional charging can store energy and return power to the grid when needed, creating new opportunities for community energy resilience.
Pilot Vision
Recharge-OK combines technical innovation, pilot deployment, and community engagement to explore practical and scalable solutions for energy resilience in Oklahoma.
- Advance technical research on electric school buses by integrating bi-directional chargers that enable real-time energy exchange with the grid through V2G technology.
- Demonstrate how V2G-enabled buses can provide backup power during outages and reduce peak energy demand in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
- Launch a digital decision-support platform that communicates V2G performance, cost savings, and environmental benefits.
- Host community workshops, a science fair, and student-led STEM projects to raise awareness of energy resilience.
- Develop scalable economic models and utility rate structures to support V2G adoption in schools and other communities.