General Motors announced the activation of vehicle-to-grid charging capabilities for its electric vehicle and home energy customers at an event in San Francisco. The technology allows GM's electric vehicles to send power back to homes and potentially the electrical grid.

The automaker's move comes as electricity demand surges from artificial intelligence data centers, creating new pressures on power infrastructure. GM positioned the vehicle-to-grid technology as a way to help offset some of this increased energy consumption by turning parked electric vehicles into distributed energy resources.

Beyond the immediate vehicle-to-grid launch, GM revealed it is developing sodium-ion battery chemistry for applications beyond automotive use. The company said these new batteries would be designed for data centers and GM's own manufacturing facilities, expanding the automaker's presence in the energy storage market.

The announcements represent GM's broader strategy around energy storage and grid resilience as the company seeks to leverage its battery technology expertise across multiple sectors. Vehicle-to-grid technology has been tested by various automakers but has seen limited real-world deployment due to technical and regulatory challenges.

GM's timing aligns with growing concerns about power grid capacity as AI workloads drive unprecedented electricity demand at data centers nationwide. The company joins other businesses exploring how electric vehicles might serve as mobile energy storage units to help stabilize power supply during peak demand periods.