EV charging and energy management provider Wallbox has announced the launch of its virtual power plants (VPPs) in California and New York, powered by a new partnership with Leap, a platform for building and scaling VPPs. The initiative is part of Wallbox Rewards, a new program that enables Wallbox users to earn incentives by contributing to grid flexibility through their home EV chargers.

The VPPs will aggregate energy capacity from thousands of residential chargers and connect to local energy programs that support the grid using Leap’s platform. By intelligently coordinating when chargers draw power, the VPP functions as a flexible, dispatchable resource that helps utilities manage demand peaks, balance the variability of renewable generation and improve overall grid stability.

Participating users will allow their chargers to shift charging to times when electricity is cleaner, more affordable, and in lower demand. In return, they “gain access to in-app charging insights, feature upgrades, and potential eligibility for performance-based financial incentives through Wallbox Rewards.”

The program is already live in California and New York, and the companies expect to expand into additional US markets, including Texas, later in 2025.

“Launching our first virtual power plants in California and New York marks a major step in scaling the role of EV chargers as flexible grid assets,” said Esteve Dolsa, General Manager North America at Wallbox. “Through our partnership with Leap, we’re connecting Wallbox chargers to energy markets in real time, turning distributed infrastructure into a reliable grid resource.”

Source: Wallbox