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Vehicle to grid (V2G) technology is an emerging concept that allows plug-in electric vehicles including electric cars, trucks and buses to communicate with and feed power back to the electrical grid. Through V2G, electric vehicles can store energy from the grid during off-peak hours and feed excess power back to the grid during peak hours. This two-way flow of electricity has the potential to boost power supply reliability and reduce emissions.
How V2G Works
V2G technology works by allowing electric vehicles to operate bidirectionally. Special bi-directional charging stations and control systems are installed that enable electric vehicles to both receive power from the grid as well as send stored energy back to the grid. During periods of low energy demand at night, electric vehicle batteries can be charged using low-cost renewable energy like wind and solar.
During peak energy demand periods in the day, the excess stored energy in electric vehicle batteries can be sent back to the grid through power inverters. Utilities would use V2G technology along with smart charging to harness this stored energy from EVs and supplement power supplies during peak demand hours. Special control software and communication systems allow utilities to purchase and dispatch power from EV batteries in a safe, coordinated manner.
Potential Benefits of Vehicle To Grid
Adoption of V2G technology provides numerous potential economic and environmental benefits:
– Provides extra power reserves during peak demand periods: Electric vehicles connected to the grid via V2G can provide utilities with up to tens of gigawatts of stored electricity capacity nationwide. This supplemental power helps stabilize the grid during peak periods preventing blackouts.
– Reduces strain on infrastructure: By discharging EVs during daily peaks, V2G lessens the need for additional power plants, transmission lines and other infrastructure to meet rising energy demand. This reduces costs for utilities and ratepayers.
– Increases use of renewable energy: Off-peak overnight charging of EVs coincides with periods of high renewable energy output from solar panels and wind turbines. V2G maximizes utilization of wind and solar energy that often goes wasted due to inability to store it.
– Lowers energy costs: Leveraging millions of electric vehicles as distributed energy storage helps shift energy use to non-peak times, lowering overall electricity costs. Vehicle owners can also earn revenue by supplying stored power to the grid through V2G bidding programs.
– Cuts greenhouse gas emissions: Increased renewable energy consumption and optimization of existing infrastructure diminishes the need for fossil fuel power plants. This leads to significant reductions in carbon emissions responsible for climate change.
Vehicle To Grid Projects and Demonstrations
Over the past decade, numerous V2G feasibility studies and pilot programs have been conducted worldwide to demonstrate this promising technology. Here are some notable examples:
– University of Delaware led a groundbreaking 2007-2009 study showing successful bi-directional charging and power discharge from EVs to the grid. It proved the concept and feasibility of V2G technology.
– A 2010 project in Denmark saw 50 electric vehicles provide frequency regulation services to the grid for a year via V2G connectivity. It helped stabilize grid frequency and the owners earned revenue.
– A 2013 UK project aggregated energy from 200 Nissan LEAF EVs for National Grid through V2G systems. It successfully discharged over 6 MWh of stored electricity back into the grid.
– Since 2014, Southern California Edison has been conducting V2G trials with BMW i3 EVs providing ancillary services like voltage regulation to their distribution network.
– Ford has partnered with New York State on an ongoing V2G demonstration project utilizing Ford Focus Electric vehicles since 2017. Over 13MWh of power has been delivered back to the grid from the EVs.
With supportive laws and policies, V2G technology offers a mutually beneficial solution for electric vehicle owners, automakers, utilities and the environment. As more utilities actively deploy V2G systems going forward, this transformational technology is poised to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy worldwide in the coming decades.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
