The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a paper titled The Future of Vehicle Grid Integration: Harnessing the Flexibility of EV Charging as part of its EVGrid Assist initiative. The document was developed with broad stakeholder input and outlines a shared vision for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration (VGI). The document is meant as a guidepost for the transition of automotive as more and more electric vehicles begin plugging in.
This vision for the future of vehicle grid integration provides a destination to plan and align towards. Extending beyond a technical consideration, VGI underscores a social dimension to electricity infrastructure planning so that EVs are integrated with the grid in a way that serves communities; meets regional, state, and local objectives; addresses the needs of drivers; and provides universal value to customers, utility ratepayers, and the grid through enhanced resilience and reliability. —Gil Bindewald, principal deputy assistant secretary for DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE), which funded this project in part
The paper’s goal is to outline how to reliably harmonize the electric grid and the vehicles connecting to it by giving direction to stakeholders. The goal is to help in developing products and identifying opportunities for standardization along with guidance for policies, rates, and services.
The DOE’s vision for VGI is underscored by five pillars:
- Universal Value
- Right-sized Infrastructure
- Standards-supported Innovation
- Customer-centered Options
- Secure Coordination
Using these pillars, the DOE plans to develop a VGI strategy that details federal efforts to support pursuit of this vision. Building on existing activities, including the DOE’s funding of demonstrations of smart charging management and capacity building, the DOE will also host listening sessions to identify emerging barriers and challenges and stakeholder meetings to enhance peer-to-peer learning.
The EVGrid Assist program is led by the Office of Energy’s Advanced Grid Modeling Research Program, the Vehicle Technologies Office, and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (a Department of Transportation collaboration). The DOE’s offices of Technology Transitions and Policy are also coordinating.
Aaron is an automotive journalist living in Wyoming, USA. His background includes technology, mechanics, commercial vehicles, and new vehicle evaluations. Aaron is a member of several automotive media groups and writes for many well-known publications.