What’s Happening
According to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory, the number of electric and hybrid vehicles on Europe’s roads reached six million in 2022. This shift towards e-mobility carries potential for the usage of EVs as mobile energy storage systems. The forthcoming Power2Drive Europe 2023 event will shed light on this trend by focusing on the innovations in bidirectional charging.
Why It Matters
The European Union has mandated that from 2035 onwards, all cars must be electric. As the e-mobility sector flourishes, leveraging the vehicle batteries as flexible storage systems will play an integral role in ensuring a reliable energy supply. This approach aligns with environmental goals and is cost-effective. The Power2Drive Europe Conference at the International Congress Center München (ICM) will delve deeper into this topic.
Key Points
Electric vehicles, when used as mobile storage systems, can provide clean energy to homes, optimize solar power self-consumption, and manage EV charging costs. Methods such as Vehicle2Home (V2H) and Vehicle2Building (V2B) optimize this process, where the vehicles supply power back to residential buildings or commercial properties.
According to Timo Kern, the Head of Energy System and Markets at the Research Center for Energy Economics (FfE) in Munich, “Since the difference between domestic electricity price and the photovoltaic feed-in tariff has increased with rising energy prices, a larger number of vehicles and homes are suitable for Vehicle2Home.”
Vehicle2Grid (V2G) is another potential method to utilize the significant power reserves of electric cars. As per a study by Agora Energiewende, if a quarter of all EVs use V2G by 2035 and 40 percent of those vehicles are available to the electricity market, Germany could potentially have 28 gigawatts of usable output. This method could also lessen the reliance on battery storage systems.
Bottom Line
Although the number of EVs used for bidirectional charging is currently limited, the demand is growing, which presents opportunities for vehicles to serve as power storage systems. The European Union’s three-year project, SCALE, is exploring smart charging solutions for electric vehicles. The ultimate goal is to establish a new energy ecosystem that maximizes the use of electric vehicle batteries.
In the upcoming Power2Drive Europe 2023 event, over 300 suppliers of charging infrastructure solutions will present their offerings. The accompanying conference will highlight the latest developments in bidirectional charging, market trends, and innovative projects for e-mobility. This paradigm shift presents an opportunity to enhance the capabilities of e-mobility while contributing to climate goals and creating a new energy ecosystem.
