World-first: EVs Power Grid During Outage in Australia Using V2G
The development of electric vehicles (EVs) was initially driven by the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change. However, a significant benefit of EVs was highlighted during a major storm in Canberra, Australia, when a fleet of electric cars supplied power to the grid using Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology. This event demonstrated the potential of EVs to provide emergency power during outages.
During the storm, the power supply to tens of thousands of homes was interrupted. In response, power was supplied from a fleet of vehicles’ batteries to the Australian electricity grid, showcasing the viability of V2G technology in enhancing grid resilience and stability.
“It’s the first time in the world this type of vehicle-to-grid response to an emergency has been demonstrated,” said lead author of the study, Senior Research Fellow Dr Bjorn Sturmberg from the Australian National University.
“It shows electric vehicles can provide the backup we need in an emergency like this,” Sturmberg continued.
Sturmberg explained that their team operates a fleet of 51 electric vehicles across Canberra. These EVs, when plugged in, continuously monitor the grid and are capable of swiftly delivering short bursts of power to help stabilize the system if there’s a sudden drop in the national grid’s power. “They’re essentially big batteries on wheels,” he remarked.
Electric Vehicles Discharged Power Into the Grid During a Blackout
The electric vehicles were used as part of a study led by The Australian National University (ANU). During the blackout, sixteen EVs were plugged in at properties across Canberra in Australia. The researcher claimed that immediately after the blackout started, these vehicles began discharging power into the grid, as they had been programmed to do.
“In total, they provided 107 kilowatts of support to the national grid,” added Sturmberg.
“To put that in perspective, 105,000 vehicles responding in this way would fully cover the backup required for the whole of the ACT and NSW. For context, there were just under 100,000 EVs sold in Australia last year,” Sturmberg continued.
The event, which took place in February, was the first real-world test of the vehicles and chargers, according to the researcher.
Supporting the Grid
The team believes there’s still much to be done to balance the increased number of EVs being charged with grid resilience. They also noted that if EV owners charge their vehicles simultaneously in the evening when they return home, it could place an additional burden on the grid.
Sturmberg highlighted that during the February emergency, once the vehicles had provided power for ten minutes, some resumed charging by default. “There would be little cost or inconvenience in delaying charging for an hour or two in this kind of situation,” he noted.
Electric Vehicle Council energy and infrastructure head Ross De Rango emphasized that vehicle-to-grid technology presents a significant opportunity for Australia. It could help reduce power bills and accelerate the closure of coal and gas-fired power stations.
“We don’t see a future where anyone is able to draw energy out of a consumer’s car without their consent. This level of consumer protection is actually baked in at a very basic level – because it’s the driver that decides if the car is plugged in or not,” said De Rango.
V2G is One Component of V2X
In addition to V2G, another key term often discussed in the context of bi-directional charging is V2X, or Vehicle-to-Everything. This broad term encompasses a variety of use cases, including vehicle-to-home (V2H), vehicle-to-building (V2B), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-load (V2L) services. Each abbreviation represents a specific use case, such as using power from an electric vehicle (EV) battery to supply a residential home or a commercial office building through V2G. Other examples would include an EV charging another EV through V2V, preventing stranding. In one example, Ford’s F-150 Lightning electric truck has the capability to power a home during a blackout using V2H, as well as run power tools at a jobsite through V2L.
With V2X, EVs can provide value even when not contributing directly to the grid. The concept behind V2G aligns closely with traditional smart charging, also known as V1G charging. This model allows for managing EV charging to increase or decrease charging power based on demand. V2G takes this initiative a step further by enabling the power stored in car batteries to be temporarily returned to the grid to counterbalance fluctuations in energy production and consumption.
