V2G trial launches with innovative technology to cut costs and emissions
A groundbreaking project has commenced in the UK to trial vehicle to grid (V2G) electric vehicle (EV) workplace charging using new, lower-cost technology. The V2VNY project aims to evaluate the potential of an alternating current (AC) V2G charger to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy costs for businesses and fleet owners.
The V2VNY trial has recently seen the installation of its first chargers, designed to showcase a commercially viable method for EV drivers and businesses to save money while alleviating pressure on the electricity grid during peak demand periods. V2G technology allows EVs to both draw power from the grid and return it, enabling users to charge vehicles when electricity prices are low and sell it back when prices peak.
This trial is significant as it employs AC bi-directional charging rather than the traditional direct current (DC) approach. The innovative AC chargers are synchronised with the grid, making them more efficient at low power levels, and they are considerably more cost-effective for use in both workplace and domestic settings. Until now, V2G capabilities were predominantly restricted to vehicles with CHAdeMO (DC) technology, but the V2VNY project is breaking new ground by utilising AC V2X technology.
The initiative is also testing the transfer of energy from EVs to buildings and other vehicles as part of the broader V2X concept. Industry experts view V2G as a crucial strategy for harnessing renewable energy, allowing stored energy to be fed back into the grid, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and aiding the UK’s journey to net zero.
With over one million EVs now on UK roads—an ever-increasing pool of mobile battery storage—the V2VNY trial offers participants a free V2G charger, which they can retain post-project, provided their fleet includes compatible EVs featuring AC V2X technology.
The V2VNY project is spearheaded by Hangar 19, in collaboration with CrowdCharge, DriveElectric, Electric Corby, Oxfordshire County Council, Grid Beyond, and JLR, which is supplying prototype EVs. Mike Potter, CEO of CrowdCharge, highlights the project’s potential to leverage the substantial battery storage capacity of parked EVs, contributing to cost savings and carbon reduction.
The V2VNY trial, part of the V2X Innovation Programme, is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and will run from September 2024 to March 2025.
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