Vehicle To Grid Technology

Battery-electric vehicles and grid-connected hybrid vehicles rely on the power grid for energy – they have to plug in to charge their batteries. With power alerts and blackouts a recent reality, it is easy to conclude that the energy requirements of grid-connected electric vehicles will make the energy crisis worse. Actually, quite the opposite may be true. With a bi-directional grid power interface, virtually any vehicle that can plug into the grid can potentially provide beneficial support to the grid.

Battery electric vehicles can support the grid exceptionally well by providing any of a number of functions known collectively as ancillary services. These services are vital to the smooth and efficient operation of the power grid. A hybrid vehicle can provide ancillary services, and can also generate power. Fuel cells are already being commercialized for small stationary power sources, so a vehicle mounted fuel cell could also serve as a vehicle-to-grid power source. Sharing power assets between transportation and power generation functions can create compelling new economics for electrically-propelled vehicles.