VEHICLE-TO-GRID (V2G)
Vehicle-to-grid (v2g) is a technology that has the power to transform the energy system. It is defined with the standard ISO 15118, Communication interface between the vehicle and the electrical network.
WHAT ARE V2G AND V2X?
V2G stands for "vehicle to grid" and is a technology that allows power to be returned to the electrical grid from an electric car's battery. With electric vehicle-to-grid technology, also known as car-to-grid, a car battery can be charged and discharged based on different signals, such as nearby energy production or consumption.
V2X means vehicle for everything. It includes many different use cases, such as vehicle-to-home (V2H), vehicle-to-building (V2B), and vehicle-to-grid services. Depending on whether you want to use the electricity from an EV battery in your home or in building electrical loads, there are different abbreviations for each of these use cases. Your vehicle can work for you, even when grid feedback isn't your case.
In a nutshell, the idea behind vehicle-to-grid is similar to regular smart charging. Smart charging, also known as V1G charging, allows us to control the charging of electric cars in a way that allows charging power to be increased or decreased when necessary. Vehicle-to-grid goes one step further and allows charged power to also be momentarily returned to the grid from car batteries to balance variations in power production and consumption.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT V2G?
To summarize, the vehicle to the grid helps mitigate climate change by allowing our energy system to balance more and more renewable energy. However, to succeed in tackling the climate crisis, three things need to happen in the energy and mobility sectors: decarbonisation, energy efficiency and electrification.
In the context of energy production, decarbonization refers to the deployment of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. This introduces the problem of energy storage. While fossil fuels can be seen as a form of energy storage, since they release energy when burned, wind and solar power work differently.
Energy must be used where it is produced or stored somewhere for later use. Therefore, the growth of renewables inevitably makes our energy system more volatile, requiring new ways to balance and store energy for use.
Simultaneously, the transportation sector is doing its fair share of carbon reduction, and as striking proof of this, the number of electric vehicles is steadily increasing. Electric vehicle batteries are by far the most cost-effective form of energy storage, as they do not require additional hardware investments.
Compared with one-way smart charging, with V2G the battery capacity can be used more efficiently. V2X converts EV charging from an electrical demand response to a battery solution. Enables 10 times more efficient battery usage compared to one-way smart charging.
Globally, there will be between 140 and 240 million electric vehicles by 2030. This means that we will have at least 140 million small energy storage devices on wheels with an aggregate storage capacity of 7 TWh.
Standards-based V2x charging station technology
In Europe with a direct current charging connector type CCS DC, ISO 15118: Communication interface between the vehicle and the electrical network applies.
How does V2G work?
The most important thing for electric vehicle owners is to have enough power in their car battery when they need to drive their car. This can be easily controlled via an app on the owner's phone. But since a car spends 90% of its time parked, it makes sense to run the battery when it's not in use. So with V2G, grid balancing is possible for as long as an EV is connected to the smart charger. But always with a (smart) eye on battery levels.
It makes more sense for an EV owner to charge overnight, with renewables when the grid is less in demand and electricity is cheaper, or during the day if the power source is solar. They can then sell it back at peak times, at a higher rate.
Which charger is compatible with V2G?
Some of the models of DC charger DC, are compatible with V2G mode.
How is the V2G bi-directional inverter technology similar?
There is a similarity between sending energy to the grid with self-consumption solar installations that require an inverter certified with the Spanish regulations of RD 1699, which regulates the operation of grid connection systems and electricity production.