Skip to main content

EV tests to optimise their performance with power grids

Researchers at the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have released a technical report that could help improve the performance of electric vehicles (EVs) and the efficiency of the electric utility grids that power them.The report documents a series of test procedures designed to enable engineers, designers and utilities to evaluate the performance of various EVs and hybrids to optimise how they connect with electric utility grids today - and "smart grids" in the future.
April 26, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Researchers at the 5275 US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have released a technical report that could help improve the performance of electric vehicles (EVs) and the efficiency of the electric utility grids that power them.

The report documents a series of test procedures designed to enable engineers, designers and utilities to evaluate the performance of various EVs and hybrids to optimise how they connect with electric utility grids today – and “smart grids” in the future. As more vehicles with large batteries come into use and smart grid technology advances, grid operators in the future may be able to take advantage of the two-way flow of power from EVs and hybrids plugged into utility grids to smooth spikes in demand and improve the reliability of their systems. Evaluating today’s vehicle technologies will advance the goal of transforming the nation’s transportation system to maximize efficiency and use of clean energy.

Engineering vehicles capable of interconnecting to the power system for bi-directional power flow is a key component of emerging “vehicle-to-grid” systems, in which plug-in EVs communicate with the power grid to deliver electricity or modulate their charging rates. The global vehicle-to-grid (V2G) market is expected to grow at a rapid pace, reaching the US$2.25 billion mark in 2012 and accelerating to $40.4 billion by 2020, according to a new market analysis from GlobalData.

“This report offers the first nationally available set of test procedures for V2G applications,” NREL Director of Energy Systems Integration Ben Kroposki said. “Unleashing the potential of electric vehicles to optimise grid performance will be instrumental as the world moves to a smart grid with much higher use of renewables, energy storage and load control.

The NREL report, Interim Test Procedures for Evaluating Electrical Performance and Grid Integration of Vehicle-to-Grid Applications, is available at %$Linker: External 0 0 0 oLinkExternal this link Interim Test Procedures for Evaluating Electrical Performance and Grid Integration of Vehicle-to-Grid Applications false http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/51001.pdf. false false%>.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • LiuGong is offering a 50tonne class excavator
    January 6, 2017
    LiuGong Machinery is exhibiting two of its key excavators at Conexpo, the 922D and 950E. The 950E model is aimed at the 50tonne excavator class of particular importance as it takes LiuGong’s range into a new segment for large earthmoving duties. The 950E can be configured for mass excavation applications such as truck loading and the standard model features a 3.2m3 bucket although other application-specific buckets are also offered.
  • LiuGong is offering a 50tonne class excavator
    January 24, 2014
    LiuGong Machinery is exhibiting two of its key excavators at Conexpo, the 922D and 950E. The 950E model is aimed at the 50tonne excavator class of particular importance as it takes LiuGong’s range into a new segment for large earthmoving duties. The 950E can be configured for mass excavation applications such as truck loading and the standard model features a 3.2m3 bucket although other application-specific buckets are also offered.
  • CDE introduces latest M2500 mobile wash plant
    February 12, 2013
    Materials washing specialists CDE’s latest M2500 mobile washing plant and AggMax portable logwasher is being introduced. The M2500, launched to the global market at Bauma 2010, has since been installed in 20 countries throughout Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australasia and Latin America. With existing applications across a wide range of materials including sand and gravel, crushed rock, scalpings, construction and demolition waste recycling, silica sands and iron ore processing the company has announced a n
  • Cat launches new tandem rollers at Intermat
    April 12, 2012
    A new range of tandem vibratory rollers will be launched by Cat at Intermat, which it said will deliver greater operator comfort and visibility. Among the range will be articulated and drum-steer configurations, available with solid or split drums. Optional attachments will allow customers to take advantage of the versatility on offer by customizing the machine for specific applications, enabling customers to improve compaction quality.