Exploring Connections Beyond Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicle Manufacturers and Power Companies Delve into "Vehicle-to-Everything" Concepts
In an innovative move towards a more sustainable future, automakers and utilities are collaborating to leverage electric vehicles (EVs) as mobile energy storage resources. One such partnership is the GM Energy and Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) V2X pilot program, which is transforming General Motors (GM) EVs into dynamic energy assets.
Robert Cruikshank, author of Driven, is one such participant in this groundbreaking program. He uses excess solar power from his rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system to charge his EV for virtually no cost. For Cruikshank, charging a 100 kWh battery for an EV trip costs approximately $2.40, making charging with solar power extremely cheap.
The V2X technology allows households to reduce their reliance on the grid during heavy demand periods by withdrawing from the vehicle battery. This technology can help improve grid resiliency and potentially reduce the overall total cost of EV ownership.
The GM-PG&E pilot program uses smart charging technology and energy management systems to enable GM EV owners to supply stored battery power back to the grid during peak demand periods or emergencies, thereby stabilizing grid operations and increasing resilience. Participants in the pilot must enroll in PG&E's Emergency Load Reduction Program, which offers incentives for customers who export stored power to the grid and/or reduce their uptake during high demand periods.
Eligible residential PG&E customers enrolled in the V2X pilot will receive discounts of up to $US4,500 off the price of a GM Energy home charging bundle and vehicle-to-home enablement kit. The size of the solar panels and the EV model can be adjusted to fit most drivers' needs, making this technology accessible to a wide range of consumers.
The key to utilizing solar charging for EVs is having a job that allows for extended periods of home charging. Cruikshank's job allows him to leave his car at home on 2 to 3 sunny days a week. To maximize solar charging, it is beneficial to have a home charger with a 'solar' setting.
Not just in California, but many networks experience daily "duck curves," periods of excess solar power generation during the day and high demand for electricity in the evening. The full value of bi-directional EVs can be extracted by charging the batteries when there is excess solar - during sunny hours of the day - and discharging some of the stored energy back to the grid during the early evening hours when the grid is usually stressed.
Utilities like PG&E utilize this program to integrate substantial EV battery capacity into their energy systems, enabling rapid response to demand fluctuations and improving renewable energy utilization by smoothing intermittency from solar and wind generation. This collaboration helps overcome grid constraints, especially in high-demand regions like California, by alleviating infrastructure stress through intelligent energy flow management, thus deferring costly upgrades and reducing carbon emissions associated with conventional peaker plants.
In sum, the GM Energy and PG&E V2X pilot program represents a pioneering example of how automakers and utilities are harnessing enhanced bi-directional EV capabilities to create a more resilient, flexible, and clean energy grid while enabling EV owners to actively participate in energy markets and emergency preparedness. This partnership is just one of several such schemes currently underway in the US, marking a significant step towards a greener and more sustainable future.
- Utilities like PG&E are integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into their energy systems as mobile energy storage resources to address daily fluctuations in demand and supply, such as the "duck curves" experienced in many networks.
- By participating in the GM Energy and PG&E V2X pilot program, Robert Cruikshank is able to charge his EV using excess solar power from his rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system, significantly reducing his energy costs.
- The collaboration between automakers and utilities in leveraging EV technology for energy storage and management is a significant step towards a greener and more sustainable future, as it helps overcome grid constraints and enables EV owners to actively participate in energy markets.
- With the GM-PG&E pilot program, eligible PG&E customers can receive discounts on a home charging bundle and vehicle-to-home enablement kit, making the technology accessible to a wide range of consumers looking to adopt more sustainable lifestyle choices through electric vehicles and solar energy.
