ev.energy announces collaborative project to unlock the potential of bi-directional EV charging

17 JANUARY 2023, LONDON – Electric vehicle (EV) software specialist ev.energy has announced V2X-Flex, a collaborative project which will define the future of the UK’s smart flexible energy ecosystem.

With the Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) as project partner and the help of charger point and vehicle manufacturers, Indra, Wallbox, Volkswagen Group UK, Nissan, Siemens – the project will focus on upgrading smart charging technology to ensure solutions are interoperable and bi-directional. The goal is to connect network operators and EV drivers through software to offer increased convenience, resilience, self-reliance, and carbon savings on top of direct financial benefits.

While the UK is shifting towards renewable energy, there are inconsistencies that need to be addressed. The intermittency of sunshine and wind means that renewable energy sources generate their energy depending on the time of the day and weather. This poses a problem in delivering on-demand power 24/7.

V2X-Flex has the potential to help unlock £2.5 billion* in annual system flexibility value by 2050. This will be achieved through upgrading 26% of home and workplace EV charging from smart to bi-directional vehicle-to-grid (V2G), vehicle-to-home (V2H) or vehicle-to-business (V2B) charging. If over a quarter of the UK’s private charging infrastructure is upgraded to smart bi-directional, the net EV winter peak demand could be reduced by over 15GW - that is the equivalent energy needed to power 11.25 million homes.

The V2X-Flex project, part of the V2X Innovation Programme, is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), delivered by Innovate UK. V2X is part of the up to £65m Flexibility Innovation Programme, funded from the £1 billion BEIS Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. 

EV drivers who use V2X services will enjoy an enhanced charging experience that could save them up to £800 through reduced bills and rewards funded by ev.energy’s grid-service programs. 

William Goldsmith, Head of Grid & Data Services at ev.energy, says: “The V2X-Flex project builds on ev.energy’s world-leading smart charging platform, incorporating bi-directional charging technologies to unlock an exciting new range of EV charging products and services.

“As a global EV charging platform, ev.energy works with charger manufacturers, vehicle OEMs, and energy utilities to connect electric vehicles with the smart grid. Collaboration and alignment are key to delivering successful innovation and we are thrilled to be delivering this project with such a great range of partners.”

Danica Caiger-Smith, Consumer Research Lead at Energy Systems Catapult, said: “Smart charging is already helping us to better align EV charging with intermittent renewable energy generation. Adding two-way charging – charge and discharge – establishes flexibility with our energy use.

“Most importantly, two-way charging could help consumers to use energy in ways that gives them what they need, when they need it in their homes, cars, and on the grid. This adds value to the EV charging proposition. The more we can establish value in services for consumers, the greater their uptake and the greater the opportunity for EV energy flexibility becomes.”

Energy and Climate Minister Graham Stuart said,  “We want to make smart charging an easier choice for drivers of electric vehicles, whether that is charging on the driveway, at the workplace, or parked on the street. To do that we need to build new network infrastructure at pace, using the latest available technologies.

“Today’s plan sets out how we will work with Ofgem and industry to kickstart the market for smart charging, which we are backing up with £16m in innovation funding. This will let people take control of their energy usage, in the most convenient and low-cost way.”

If you would like to discuss or contribute to the project, please get in touch via the ev.energy website to see how you can join the program.

*based on BEIS-Smart-Systems&Flexibility-Plan-2021, annual system cost saving from 15GW of additional flexibility

About ev.energy

ev.energy’s mission is simple: to make EV charging easier, greener, and cheaper. Our software intelligently manages EV charging on behalf of utilities for over 70,000 drivers worldwide. Operating in the US, UK, Europe and Australia, ev.energy offers a software platform that directly manages charging with a growing list of home chargers and vehicles.

Media contact – ev.energy@thephagroup.com 

About the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Leading economy-wide transformation by backing enterprise and long-term growth, generating cheaper, cleaner, homegrown energy and unleashing the UK as a science superpower through innovation. The V2X Flex project, part of the V2X Innovation Programme, is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), delivered by Innovate-UK. V2X is part of the up to £65m Flexibility Innovation Programme, funded from the £1 billion BEIS Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

About the Energy Systems Catapult

Energy Systems Catapult was set up to accelerate the transformation of the UK’s energy system and ensure UK businesses and consumers capture the opportunities of clean growth on the way to Net Zero.

The Catapult is an independent, not-for-profit centre of excellence that bridges the gap between industry, government, academia and research. We take a whole-systems view of the energy sector, helping us to identify and address innovation priorities and market barriers, in order to decarbonise the energy system at the lowest cost.

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