Vehicle to Grid (V2G) is an energy concept where electric cars and plug-in hybrids can send excess electricity back to the power grid, potentially earning owners money. The technology could also act as backup generators during power outages, but hurdles remain, including ensuring car batteries have a consistent lifespan under constant input and output. Despite this, EV manufacturers have partnered with grid vehicle researchers and lawmakers to launch pilot programs.
Vehicle to Grid, also known as V2G, is a term used to describe the energy concept whereby electric cars and certain plug-in hybrid cars can not only receive electricity, but also send excess electricity back to the power grid. The concept was developed at the University of Delaware, in the United States, by Dr. Willett Kempton. Kempton imagined that electric cars could do more to conserve energy than run without fossil fuels; He figured they could save even more energy by pumping excess electricity back into the grid. Under this vision, future electric car owners could earn money by selling electricity to the grid for use in homes and businesses.
The vehicle to the grid would help save electricity, which might otherwise lose power. The electrical grid is designed to contain only the amount of electricity that is demanded at any given time. To accomplish this, it communicates with computer power sources every few seconds, allowing generators to know exactly how much electricity it needs to meet demand. This, however, means that there is a large amount of potential surplus electricity that might not be used. Using vehicle-to-grid technology, car batteries placed overnight in a garage could store excess power that the grid couldn’t immediately use, and then send the electricity back to the grid when needed.
Surplus electricity stored in car batteries would also have other benefits. In the event of a power outage, where the grid is unable to deliver power via power lines to homes and businesses, electric cars could act as backup generators, with the potential to power multiple homes. Electric car owners could also benefit financially from the vehicle to the grid, receiving payments for the electricity they have sold back to the grid.
Although the technology is in place to make vehicle networking a reality, there are numerous hurdles to overcome before electric charging stations replace the corner service station. Car companies would have to work with utility companies to ensure that the car communicated properly with the network. Network vehicles should also be easy to use. In addition, electric car owners would have to be able to choose exactly how much electricity they wanted to buy and sell, and car manufacturers would have to ensure that batteries would have the same lifespan even under constant electricity input and output. Perhaps even more important, charging stations would have to be easily accessible in all cities and highways. And, of course, there must be enough consumer demand for it to be successful.
Vehicle-to-grid researchers have already taken tangible steps toward implementing the technology for consumer use. EV manufacturers have forged partnerships with grid vehicle researchers, as well as some utilities and major automakers to launch dedicated pilot programs to deliver the technology to market. Lawmakers have also been working to implement the technology. In 2009, Delaware Governor Jack A. Markell signed a bill, the first of its kind, requiring car owners to pay for electricity sold to the grid at the same rate they are charged for using it.
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