Tim Farquer
Superintendent, Mercer County Schools & Founder, Bus2GridMercer County Schools
Tim is the founder & administrative leave for Bus2Grid, helping schools electrify their fleets. He serves as superintendent for Mercer County Schools. He previously served as superintendent for Williamsfield Schools where he led their fleet electrification efforts. A lifelong educator, from a family is educators, Tim is passionate about electrifying in a way that puts money back into classrooms.
Tim Farquer’s Session(s):
10:45 am–11:30 am | Wed, March 26, 2025
Tackling Operational Challenges: Education and Communication Insights to Help Utilities Best Support Their Customers
As the electrification of fleets increases, utilities are expecting a tremendous amount of load growth on the grid. In talking with several utilities, approximately 85% of the interconnections can move forward to install reliable charging infrastructure. The misconception is that utilities are unable to handle the new load requirements. In actuality, the majority of the connections can be made without hefty infrastructure improvements. In cases of grid congestion, new tools are becoming available to the utility and the customer to manage the load. Namely, these solutions can include site energy efficiency improvements, automated load management, flexible connections, and stationary energy storage.
Discussion topics include:
- How to engage early with customers to discuss energy solutions that benefit both the customer and the grid and provide regular feedback on energy usage with new EV loads.
- Effective tools and strategies to communicate energy management solutions clearly and support customer understanding.
- Prioritize customer education on managing EV charging to avoid peak times and support grid stability.
- Integrate renewable energy solutions to enhance grid resilience and promote sustainable energy use with EV adoption.
1:00 pm–1:30 pm | Thu, March 27, 2025
School Bus Electrification
Shop Talks are peer-to-peer, industry-focused conversations facilitated by speakers. In these smaller forums, attendees can ask questions, work through challenges, and share insights while tapping into the expertise of our speakers. Don't miss this unique opportunity to gain valuable feedback and network with your industry peers! Please note our Shop Talks often fill to capacity; registration is recommended to guarantee your seat.
Speakers will guide you through the journey of electrifying school buses. Through open dialogue, they will share invaluable lessons learned from their projects.
Discussion topics include:
- Funding opportunities to support and scale your electrification efforts
- Bus models and charging hardware: what works well and what to avoid
- Impacts of cold weather on charging performance
- Leveraging microgrids to support school bus fleets
- Experiences with Make Ready programs and utility partnerships
- Navigating purchasing and contracting laws for electric school buses
- Managed charging and optimizing off-peak usage
- Optimizing charging locations and configurations for ease and efficiency