BY TXCHNOLOGIST
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind only generate electricity when the wind blows or the sun is out and that isn’t always when customers need power. Batteries large enough to hold megawatts of electricity are prohibitively expensive but another potential source of battery storage is fast emerging: electric vehicles.
Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) storage allows the smart grid to use EVs (and even hybrids) as a distributed network of batteries that can store power at off-peak times and help power the grid when demand peaks. Here’s how it works:
So let’s talk Vehicle-to-Grid or V2G!
First of all, renewable energy sources like solar and wind. However they only generate electricity when the wind blows or the sun is out. Sometimes that isn’t always. And always is especially when customers need power. Batteries large enough to hold megawatts of electricity are prohibitively expensive but another potential source of battery storage is fast emerging: electric vehicles.
Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) storage allows the smart grid to use EVs as a distributed network of batteries. So that you can store power at off-peak times. As well as help power the grid when demand peaks. Here’s how it works:
Power is generated from a renewable source. All from like wind, and also transferred to the grid. So not your renewable energy source is the batteries in this case in your car! So vehicle to grid aka V2G!
- Electricity flows from the grid to EV batteries. Especially when there also is excess capacity (e.g. when the wind blows in predawn hours). So the power flow is reversed when demand on the grid is higher.
- In conclusion, Customers can also control when the smart grid can access battery power from their EVs.
Consequently you should know there’s a lot of power stored in that car. Did you know an average EV can put out enough power to run 10 houses. It can also even control how far the batteries gets discharged. Again V2G which is cash back to you!
Top image: Paul Anderson via geograph
The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides and more. Seth's books range from:
# Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions)
# Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman
# Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel
# Green Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky
# Solar Power For Your Home by David Findley
# Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke
# Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley
# Build Your Own Small Wind Power System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea
# and more green living books to follow.
