• • • ELECTRIC VEHICLES • • •
Could EV charging be the key to future energy demand?
The Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Action Plan was published by the government and OFGEM earlier this year setting out how to unlock the potential of smart electric vehicle (EV) charging, says Rolf Bienert, managing and technical director, OpenADR Alliance
he plan is to enable owner to power their homes using the electricity stored in EVs, potentially saving them money on energy bills, and cutting emissions.
T This concept of vehicle to home (V2H) or vehicle-
to-everything (V2X) is not new, harnessing the power from a vehicle to another entity, whether that’s to the home, the grid, or to other energy- consuming destinations.
V2X requires bi-directional energy flow from the charger to the vehicle and bi- or unidirectional flow from the charger to the destination, depending on how it is being used.
The government is backing up its smart EV charging plans with its V2X Innovation Programme to help address the barriers to enabling energy flexibility from EV charging.
The first phase of this will support development of V2X bi-directional charging prototype hardware, software or models, while phase two will support small scale V2X demonstrations. The is all part of the Flexibility Innovation
Programme that looks to enable large scale widespread electricity system flexibility through smart, flexible, secure, and accessible technologies – and which will fund innovation across a range of key smart energy applications. If we look at the cars themselves, the first thing to note is that EV batteries are large, especially when you compare them to other potential energy resources. A typical home solar system is around 10kWh, while EV batteries range from 30kWh or more. This means that a fully powered EV could support an average home for several days. To make this a reality, the technology must be in place first to ensure there is a stable, reliable and secure supply of power. Most smart charging systems are already connected via apps and control platforms with pre-set systems, so easy to access and use.
Owners will also need to factor in potential additional costs, including invertors for charging and discharging the power.
This concept of bi-directional charging means that vehicles need to be designed with bi-directional power flow in mind and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) will have to be upgraded as Electric Vehicle Power Exchange Equipment (EVPE).
Open communications standards will be also critical to success, and to ensure the charging infrastructure for V2X use cases is fit for purpose. There are also implications for the battery that need to be addressed as bi-directional charging can lead to degradation and shortening of battery life. EVs today are typically sold with an eight-year battery life, but this depends on the vehicle model. Drivers will be reluctant to add extra any wear and tear, or to pay out for new batteries before time. There is also the question of power quality. With more high-powered invertors pushing power into the grid, it could lead to questions about power quality that is not up to standard, and that may require periodic grid code adjustments. But above all of this, it’s down to whether EV owners want it. The industry – and government through its various plans and initiatives – is looking to educate people about the benefits and opportunities, but is this enough?
What’s needed is a unified message from across the board, from automotive companies and OEMs,
who are key to this process, to government and industry bodies. This is a concerted effort to promote new smart energy initiatives. UK government plans are still not confirmed for a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by the end of the decade. Despite this, EV sales continue to grow, with more than one in three new vehicles sold in 2030 predicted to be electric, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). So now is the time to raise awareness of the potential for V2X technology.
There are some positive signs with new trials starting in the UK, which suggests progress and with the potential for the UK and Europe to become disruptors for this type of technology. As a global industry body, the OpenADR Alliance is already supporting smart energy initiatives and trials in the US, including those run by Duke Energy, Ford and others.
22 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • NOVEMBER 2023
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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