Electric Nation has installed the first 100 chargers in its new Vehicle to Grid (V2G) trial, which will study how the technology can solve potential electricity network capacity issues as EV numbers increase.
The one-year V2G smart charging technology trial from March 2021, organised by Western Power Distribution (WPD) and CrowdCharge, will feature Nissan EV owners in the Midlands, South West and South Wales, as only vehicles from that manufacturer feature the required CHAdeMO charging technology.
It follows the first Electric Nation project in 2018/19 which captured data from more than two million hours of car charging, providing an insight into people’s habits.
More than 450 Nissan EV drivers have so far applied to join the current Electric Nation trial which is offering free installation of the V2G smart chargers worth £5,500 to those who live in the WPD regions.
The trial is utilising the Wallbox Quasar, the smallest and lightest bidirectional charger for home use.
Using a V2G charger, EVs can put energy back into the grid at peak times which reduces the need for extra electricity generation or network reinforcement.
This is the first V2G project to use multiple energy suppliers which means it is a more realistic simulation of the future in which streets will have different EVs using V2G chargers operated by different energy suppliers.
During the trial each supplier will use the V2G chargers to test their various energy services, using the EVs to put power back into the electricity grid when required, and charging them during periods of excess supply in the system.
All the suppliers will use CrowdCharge’s demand management charger platform, which provides optimised charging sessions to make sure the customer’s vehicle is charged at the cheapest rate while being ready when needed.
By plugging in at specified times and putting energy back into the grid, active participants of the project are expected to earn a minimum reward worth up to £120, available over the trial period.
Mike Potter, CEO of CrowdCharge, said: “This trial will provide a smart solution for the management of electric vehicle charging and will study the real-world benefits of V2G.”
