Moving the V2G Needle
In 1997, Prof. Kempton, from the University of Delaware, published a groundbreaking paper titled “ELECTRICAL VEHICLES AS A NEW POWER SOURCE FOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES”. This seminal article not only set the stage but also introduced the concept of bidirectional electric vehicles, which we now know as V2G. It is important to note that this was a significant milestone in the history of V2G technology, marking its inception 27 years ago.
Since 2011, more than 100+ V2G trials and projects have been conducted worldwide, and many important lessons have been learned. I have had the privilege of participating in 14 of those V2X worldwide projects, providing me with firsthand experience and insights into the development of this technology.
Fortunately, dduring this time, the bidirectional EV supply chain improved substantially, and Tesla even decided to come onboard with its Cybertruck. In addition, the California Public Utility Commission approved DC V2G in 2020, and we are also on the way toward approval of AC V2G, which will bring down the infrastructure cost of V2G.
Another significant development was the global interest in V2G. China's strategic announcement of its interest in V2G, with large field trials scheduled in 2025, and India's completion of a 2-year project – ‘V2X in India’- are clear indicators of the widespread interest in this technology.
And finally, in April 2022, after many years of effort, the international standard ISO 15118-20 for the EV-EVSE protocol was released.
Despite the significant strides made across the V2G global industry, it's important to note that V2G technology has not yet scaled in any meaningful way anywhere in the world. This is a key challenge that the industry is currently facing, and it underscores the need for further research, development, and collaboration in the V2G sector.
V2G - An Industry Beginning to Flex
Just as the mobile phone industry experienced similar growing pains, seamless interoperability of V2G technologies from EV to EVSE to Grid Operator is essential for scaling V2G.
The new initiative from the International Energy Agency (IEA): HEV Task 53, "Bidirectional Electric Vehicle Interoperability (INBID)," aims to facilitate the testing of conformance to the 15118-20 and upcoming amendments related to bidirectional charging.
Task 53 has two main objectives: 1. Ensuring interoperability between bidirectional charging stations and vehicles; 2. Ensuring interoperability between bidirectional charging stations and distribution grids.
Task 53 will collaborate with existing international organizations and leverage the numerous accomplishments already made.
Marco Piffaretti played a key role in creating Task53, and Switzerland, as the proposing country, will cover a significant portion of the organization’s costs. Website: https://task53.org.
I am excited to announce that I have joined the Task 53 team as a representative for North America. Our team, consisting of Marco Piffaretti, Regina Flury von Arx, Nicole Waechter, and myself, and collectively we have nearly 30 years of international V2G experience. (https://lnkd.in/gM_J-zKb)
Together, we will proactively engage with the V2G eco-system to enlist industrial members such as EV and EVSE OEMs, Aggregators, Grid Operators, Universities, and V2G Experts to join Task53 and help move the needle in setting international V2G standards.