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Is this the first example of an "extra" distributed grid system?

By "extra", I mean the long advertised-not yet achieved dream where electric cars and battery backups are seamlessly integrated into the current grid, giving and taking energy in a "smart" way depending on grid conditions.

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No, this is certainly not the first such system. I helped build one at a previous job where we could even value each battery individually in response to near real-time distribution grid conditions. For example, if a transformer is nearing capacity than a battery discharge downstream has extra value because it prevents the expensive transformer from being overloaded reducing it's life.

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/opus-one-tests-...

I would be livid if I went out to go to work and my car was drained because my local utility sucks.

Luckily, this is an opt-in system. If you wake up and your car/wall is drained, that's on you for saying you're okay with that possibly happening.

Presumably there would be an option to set a minimum amount of battery that wouldn't be used.

Or even better, a target amount for a specific time of day (which would allow the battery to get low when needed and then ramp up on time).

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