the population of electric cars start to grow in significant numbers will pose a challenge for the electric power distribution network. Ideally, all electric vehicles should be loaded at night, which is when the system literally has too much energy, and a speed of “slow” (less than 16 amps).
The generation of electricity is dimensioned for the consumption day, when people are awake, and companies are active. At night there is always less electricity consumption, and all the that the system can’t take advantage of it just wasting. to Store energy on a large scale with high efficiency is a problem solved only half.
But there will also be loads during the day, in both fast and slow. Those loads at peak time can cause specific problems in the electrical system; for example, if you start to have thousands of loads at the same time at the same time, as of 14:00 to 15:00. So that the system does not collapse it is necessary to introduce the concept of smart grid, in order to better manage demand and supply automatically.
electric cars are going to change a lot of things using the technology vehicle to grid (V2G) or vehicle-to-vehicle network. In other words, each car will be integrated in the electrical network using as an intermediary the point of load, with data connection. Not only may slow down or stop the load before causing problems in the system, you can also use the car as a small electric power plant.
let us Imagine a tourist with a capacity of 30 kWh in their batteries, a figure which is quite common in new models. If the owner only has to do 25 kilometres per day, do not need to use all the capacity of your batteries, so you would have a surplus. At least 20 kWh will not be needed, for what or not eat, or takes advantage of it to another thing.
20 kWh are sufficient to power several single-family homes for hours
Thanks to the V2G you can program the car to recharge energy in the hours in which the electricity is cheaper, and that they pour into the house when it is more expensive. That’s a savings in the electricity bill. If many people do this, we reduce the consumption in peak hours, and increases in the valley, which is optimum for the electrical system as a whole.
But there is still a more interesting option, and is that electric cars pour its surplus electricity to the network when needed. Let’s imagine a peak of consumption motivated by a greater use of air conditioning in a heat wave. A few hundred electric cars can provide power at levels comparable to a power plant with the power of the nuclear power Garoña (and even more). The discharge of electricity represents income, it is not a donation.
last year, Nissan began experiences of intelligent charging, in the Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom, in order to assess the viability of the system in the future. According to the data of the company, it is possible to earn up to 1,300 euros per year (*) with the discharge of electricity surplus to the network in the case of the netherlands. Needless to say, that money will help to contain the costs of car use, can translate into free electricity for later use.
Obviously, the owner of each car can put a limit, and do not pour to the network, the more energy you will need later. This would avoid the absurd situation that the car, after hours, on a point of recharge, would have less load than they had before, or the same. Then it will load more at home, but with rate valley, it gets cheaper, there is a net gain. let’s understand: as a kind of resale.
(*): data from a fleet of several cars, not per unit
With thousands of electric cars plugged into the network it is much easier to store the surplus of renewable energy that will not be consumed. There have been several episodes of such energy generation solar, wind or hydro, that would have been enough to feed almost all the needs of the system. It is not consumed at all, as thermal and nuclear power stations can’t be stopped with a simple switch: they are time-consuming and expensive.
the higher the capacity of the batteries, the more margin there is for the discharge of electricity to the grid. To more energy poured out, more revenue for the owner of the car. Although it does not translate to the pour in money, yes it can turn into a significant savings in your bill anyway.
Few more cars and more ability to accumulate, the more benefit to the entire system
In the medium term, if it reduces generation needs-based, it can support the system more in renewables: the surplus is stored, and when not given enough power, the car will give an extra. Sizing the system to the low will mean a savings for all users of the electric system. Only lack that the legislation does not prevent this mode. It would be a total stupidity not to be in favor of this technology.
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