Electric vehicles are becoming a increasingly common sight on Australia’s roads. Compared to fossil fuel-powered cars, electric vehicles have
The potential surge in electrical energy demand posed by widespread adoption of electric vehicles would indeed strain the grid unless carefully managed through coordinated charging strategies. Despite their significant size, the batteries in electric vehicles are also designed to release excess energy back into the power grid whenever necessary. The common practice of shops charging customers more than the two-day price for family electrical energy could have a massive influence.
Within the past five years, I have played a key role in the Realising Electrical Car-to-Grid Companies initiative, working to develop the necessary expertise for this innovative technology in Australia.
The venture leveraged a fleet of 50 Nissan LEAF electric vehicles and charging stations owned by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government across Canberra. Two venture associates, including JET Cost, coordinated efforts to monitor the condition of the electrical energy grid. When necessary, electrical energy retailer ActewAGL designed its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to temporarily supply quick injections of power back into the national grid in response to rare occurrences where the energy system faces an unexpected shortfall.
An event such as that occurred on February 13 of last year. A severe storm struck high-voltage transmission towers west of Melbourne, prompting the emergency shutdown of the Loy Yang coal-fired power plant and two nearby wind farms.
The demonstration of a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system shows how it can effectively function. As the turbines disengaged, the auto’s brief energy surge came to an abrupt end. Despite this, the findings also underscore the need to be more astute in how electric vehicles are priced, especially during such crises?
As demand for renewable energy surges and grid stability wavers, electric-vehicle-to-grid (EV2G) companies hold the key to rebalancing the grid.
Picture: Bjorn Sturmberg
Car discharging to the rescue
At approximately 1 pm on the designated day, a total of sixteen electric vehicles from our fleet were simultaneously connected to charging points at six distinct locations across Canberra. Four autonomous vehicles had been charging, while twelve had remained inactive.
Upon turbine disconnection, a sudden and acute shortage of energy supply emerged within the national grid, precipitating a critical moment of uncertainty.
The chart illustrates the results of the 16 vehicle-to-grid-enabled vehicles’ performance. As instructed by our system, they rapidly transitioned from injecting to absorbing energy from the grid.
Throughout the day, a total of 16 electric vehicles contributed a cumulative output of 107 kilowatts to the power grid. For the first time in history, a vehicle-to-grid response to a grid emergency has been successfully demonstrated on the planet.
To meet extraordinary circumstances, it’s essential that approximately 105,000 vehicles are prepared to respond, as this number would be sufficient to cover the daily spare capacity within the NSW and ACT system used to balance supply and demand in case of an unexpected event? As of now, there are more than 200,000 electric vehicles on Australia’s roads, a testament to the country’s growing commitment to sustainable transportation. Among them, 11 have been purchased in the last year, with 4 additional ones acquired so far this month.
The REV’s automatic shut-off saved battery discharge for 10 minutes. According to the guidelines, units are expected to respond within a period of 10 minutes.
What’s needed next is caution regarding the need for further action to manage electric vehicle charging.
Timing makes all the distinction.
As the need for vehicle charging intensifies, a pressing inquiry emerges: How do we effectively manage charging infrastructure to cater to the diverse needs of drivers while harmonizing with the electrical grid’s requirements?
A crucial aspect of battery management is to effectively regulate the rate at which a device charges its batteries, thereby ensuring optimal performance while preventing overheating or damage. The current infrastructure won’t be able to accommodate widespread simultaneous charging of electric vehicles when people arrive home in the evening, prompting concerns about strain on the system.
Without a reliable and robust grid infrastructure, the promise of widespread electric vehicle adoption remains disconnected from reality, as insufficient energy production capacity can leave many chargers idle.
As soon as the electric vehicles had fully discharged their energy after a 10-minute pause, nine of them simultaneously initiated recharging. It’s because their default behavior is to shut down when their batteries drop below a certain threshold. It’s the very last thing the facility system would want, actually striving for stabilization.
The six vehicles that transitioned into an idle mode after a 10-minute period would still require sufficient battery power to ensure uninterrupted operation. One crucial battery-saving maneuver on that single vehicle was delayed by 10 additional minutes due to a faulty software program.
Additionally, upon reviewing data from various ACT authorities and conducting a thorough investigation of vehicles parked on-site during the event, we found that 23 were actively parking throughout the entire duration. This one-time obstruction significantly hinders the natural process of restoring one’s energy system.
Without significantly impacting their operations, autos could easily afford to wait another hour or two before recharging.
Had the 6,000 electric vehicles stopped charging at their usual rate of 5 kilowatts, it’s possible that this would have been sufficient to prevent the power outage experienced by those who saw their energy supply reduced in the afternoon. Despite the rise of electric vehicles in Australia, they are yet to be fully integrated into the national energy grid to respond to emergency situations.
As the world transitions to a cleaner, more sustainable energy mix, securing the electrical grid for an all-electric future becomes increasingly crucial.
Harnessing the power of electrification is crucial for a seamless transition to a zero-carbon economy, transforming our homes’ stoves, vehicles, and domestic hot water systems into eco-friendly marvels. Despite being crucial, designing how these units interact with the electrical energy system that supplies power to them is essential.
When demand is high and the power grid is strained, unnecessary appliances should refrain from consuming energy to help maintain a stable supply. Why aren’t they using energy efficiently when abundant renewable sources are available?
Our research suggests that vehicle-to-grid technology has significant potential to enhance the resilience of the energy system. At the same time, they highlight the need to leverage available flexibility in the timing of certain appliances’ energy usage more effectively.
While electric vehicle charging remains a crucial alternative, electrical water heaters could also make a significant impact without causing undue disruption. These innovative auto-converters and high-efficiency electric heaters offer remarkably eco-friendly and sustainable approaches to develop a robust and transparent electrical power infrastructure.
While electric vehicles (EVs) are poised to transform the automotive landscape, the absence of high-level participation from established automakers remains a critical gap. Automotive sales professionals and fleet managers initiate a dialogue with drivers, familiarizing them with electric vehicles and shaping their perceptions of the cars’ practicality.
To mitigate potential strain on the power grid during emergencies, regulators could consider mandating that electric vehicle manufacturers equip their vehicles with automatic cutoffs that halt charging when grid conditions become unstable, allowing drivers to resume charging only through an override function.
