As the number of electric and plug-in hybrid cars starts to increase, people are thinking about ways to make use of a new potential power resource. Vehicle-to-grid or V2G is a system in which plug-in electric vehicles can communicate back and forth with the power grid in order to deliver electricity into the grid when it is needed and cut back their charging rate when it is scarce.
The idea makes real sense when there is a large number of plug-in electric vehicles. Most vehicles are parked an average of 95% of the time, which means that if they were tied to the electric grid during that time, they could collectively act as an enormous battery for the grid.
V2G vehicles could balance the load on the grid by charging when overall demand is low and sending power back when demand is high. V2G could provide so-called spinning reserves to meet sudden demands for power. V2G could reduce the need for costly peak power plants.
A test V2G fleet of 15 electric Mini Coopers is now in place at the University of Delaware in a joint project with the regional grid operator and an electric company. The services provided by V2G vehicles are so valuable to the grid that participating cars could earn about $5 a day, or about $1,800 a year. This income could make electric car ownership far more attractive.
At least five major automakers are exploring the possibilities of V2G. It could well become the next big thing.
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The Grid-Integrated Vehicle with Vehicle to Grid Technology
Photo, taken on January 27, 2012, courtesy of Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.