Nick Woolley, CEO and co-founder at EV.energy, on how the UK can manage the growing demand for EVs and the impact on the national grid.

Nick Woolley, CEO and co-founder at EV.energy

Electric vehicles and the grid: A path to flexibility

As the demand for electric vehicles continues to surge, questions regarding the impact on the energy grid are often raised. These are fair questions – if the grid was overwhelmed, it could lead to power outages, strained infrastructure, and potential disruptions in critical services reliant on electricity.

However, contrary to concerns, EVs can actually be part of the solution to grid flexibility through the implementation of smart charging and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capabilities. The advent of these technologies presents a unique opportunity to manage the growing demand for EVs while ensuring a reliable and resilient grid.

Smart charging: Transforming EVs into grid assets

With EV sales on the rise and governments around the world setting ambitious targets to decarbonise transportation – the UK government is banning the sale of all new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 – it is essential to address the potential strain on the electricity grid.

Enter smart charging. By leveraging smart charging software, EVs can become an asset for grid operators rather than a burden. Smart charging technologies enable the coordination of charging patterns to match the availability of energy and the overall energy demand. This approach not only optimises the utilisation of existing grid infrastructure but also reduces the need for expensive grid reinforcements.

This is a paradigm shift in the industry that EV.energy has been a part of. By developing intelligent charging algorithms and robust software platforms, we enable EV owners to charge their vehicles at times when the grid is at excess capacity. By tapping into periods of low demand or high energy generation, EVs can charge when the electricity supply is abundant, easing the strain on the grid during peak periods. This effectively turns EVs into flexible energy storage assets that can help balance the grid and enhance its stability.

V2X: Enhancing grid flexibility with bidirectional energy flows

Furthermore, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capabilities take grid flexibility to the next level. V2X allows bidirectional energy flow between EVs and the grid, enabling EVs to not only consume energy but also supply excess electricity back to the grid. This functionality is particularly valuable during times of peak demand or grid emergencies, where EVs can provide additional power to stabilise the grid or support critical infrastructure.

Real-World examples: V2X technology in action

The industry has already seen the successful deployment of V2X technology. This has been the case across the world – such as with our V2X-Flex project and Ovo Energy’s Scirurus Project in the UK, plus Con Edison’s Brooklyn V2G pilot and National Grid’s Burrillville Project in the US.

Collaborating for seamless integration

To ensure that EVs work harmoniously with the grid, collaboration among carmakers, charging infrastructure providers, energy companies, and grid operators is crucial. Together, these stakeholders can work towards establishing standardised communication protocols, interoperability, and data-sharing frameworks to enable the effective deployment of smart charging and V2X technologies.

Through harnessing the power of these advancements, EVs can be transformed into valuable grid assets, driving grid flexibility and accelerating the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.

For more information about ev.energy and its work in unlocking barriers to V2X flexibility, visit https://www.ev.energy/business/v2x-white-paper