Electrification

  “Rolling power plants” — electric vehicles used as flexible grid resources through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and managed-charging programs — may provide a meaningful, lower-cost way to support grid reliability, reduce peak demand, and avoid expensive infrastructure upgrades. GM is expanding its V2G plans and utility pilots with PG&E and DTE to show that the concept [...]

  Briteswitch has pulled together the latest rebate trends for Commercial Lighting Controls and EV Chargers, in separate articles. Rebate Trends For Commercial Lighting Controls Commercial lighting controls are moving from an add-on feature to a central part of rebate strategy as utilities push for deeper energy savings and look beyond simple LED retrofits. In [...]

  EV charger rebates in 2026 are at record coverage and dollar levels, but the programs are more volatile, complex, and time‑sensitive than ever, especially with a key federal tax credit expiring mid‑year. 85% of the US is now covered by a rebate or incentive for installing an EV charger, up from 78% a year [...]

  EC&M Magazine recently published an article about the top 25 changes to the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC). Here are their top seven lighting and EV charger changes to the 2026 NEC.   NEW Section 120.82(B) General Lighting Demand, First 8kVA Analysis of the change: The demand load for optional dwelling unit load calculations [...]

The passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) will significantly impact the landscape for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Here’s a breakdown of the key impacts: Reduced Incentives: The OBBB eliminates the federal tax credit for new EVs ($7,500) and used EVs ($4,000), potentially making EVs less affordable for consumers and impacting adoption rates. Federal [...]

Last week, Espen Technology introduced an entirely new product category at its LightFair booth: Battery Energy Storage Systems aka BESS. I’ve written many articles in LightNOW about how numerous manufacturers in the lighting industry are managing the effects of a contracting LED lighting market by diversifying into non-lighting product categories, especially electrification products. The most [...]

  Briteswitch recently covered key trends in electric vehicle (EV) charger rebate programs for 2025, emphasizing their growing importance in supporting EV infrastructure amidst a volatile market caused by federal policy changes and consumer uncertainty. Expanded Coverage of Rebate Programs  Rebate program coverage has grown significantly, now encompassing 78% of the U.S., compared to 60% [...]

  Many lighting manufacturers now produce/sell EV chargers, so the EV market now impacts the lighting industry. Global EV sales are expected to continue their strong growth trajectory in 2025. According to Rho Motion, a leading EV research firm, over 20 million electric vehicles are projected to be sold globally in 2025, representing an 18% [...]

  NEMA has introduced two new standards. One aimed at evaluating Build American Buy America (BABA) compliance, and the other to define how electric vehicles transfer power back to the grid through EV chargers. These standards impact the lighting and EV charger industries by addressing supply chain evaluation, and electric vehicle supply equipment. Make it [...]