Zach Woogen - The Emerging Benefits of Bi-directional EV Charging Look Promising
Download MP3Zach Woogen is the Executive Director of the Vehicle-Grid Integration Council. He is a self-described "policy and market-design nerd on a mission to equitably decarbonize energy systems." He explains Vehicle Grid Integration (VGI)... an umbrella term that covers managed and smart charging of EVs... shifting when and where charging occurs so that drivers pay less and utilities are not only least impacted, but even supported during peak power periods.
Thanks to the rise of bi-directional EV charging, EVs will not only draw power from the grid, but will be able to discharge power to the homes and businesses to provide back-up power, and can discharge to the grid to support local utilities while providing drivers with a new source of income. After all, there is 40 GW of energy storage in parking lots, fleet depots, driveways, garages, and curbsides across North America.
A recent California Energy Commission study finds that there is more battery capacity in California's EVs (18.5 GW) than all other forms of utility energy storage in the state (14 GW). Yes, that's the "gross technical potential," Zach explains. Cars sit idle 95% of the time. While only a fraction of that will be available to utilities as EVs' number one priority is to provide mobility to their owners, often EVs have excess capacity on board and they are rapidly growing in number.
Zach explains that the promise of bidirectional charging is great.Tapping this new opportunity is not a technical challenge as much as it is a policy challenge. Ford, General Motors, Kia, Polestar,Tesla, and others all are developing the technology to unlock consumer and utility benefits. Virtually every electric bus now is equipped with the technology. Given increased electric demands due to decarbonization -- for heat pumps, air conditioning, EVs, and data centers -- many utilities are in need of additional capacity.
Ted asks Zach about whether VGI might void warranties for batteries. Are concerns about additional cycling of batteries valid? This is certainly an important question. Zach notes that there is considerable research about this and that warranties are an issue. But batteries are "fickle," he explains. Some new studies suggest that light-duty cycling (8 - 11 kW) of EV batteries for VGI might actually be good for batteries' health and longevity, certainly less impactful than deep charging at rates up to 350 kW.
The conversation ends with the role of the Vehicle Grid Integration Council that he leads. VGIC is a member-based trade association focused on the variety of use cases... chief among them being household resilience for EV drivers. Forums managed by VGIC explore solar and storage-paired VGI, fleet management, and the role of aggregators in this growing market. VGIC is engaged with auto makers, utilities, and their regulators... all keen in developing this new capability.
Thanks to the rise of bi-directional EV charging, EVs will not only draw power from the grid, but will be able to discharge power to the homes and businesses to provide back-up power, and can discharge to the grid to support local utilities while providing drivers with a new source of income. After all, there is 40 GW of energy storage in parking lots, fleet depots, driveways, garages, and curbsides across North America.
A recent California Energy Commission study finds that there is more battery capacity in California's EVs (18.5 GW) than all other forms of utility energy storage in the state (14 GW). Yes, that's the "gross technical potential," Zach explains. Cars sit idle 95% of the time. While only a fraction of that will be available to utilities as EVs' number one priority is to provide mobility to their owners, often EVs have excess capacity on board and they are rapidly growing in number.
Zach explains that the promise of bidirectional charging is great.Tapping this new opportunity is not a technical challenge as much as it is a policy challenge. Ford, General Motors, Kia, Polestar,Tesla, and others all are developing the technology to unlock consumer and utility benefits. Virtually every electric bus now is equipped with the technology. Given increased electric demands due to decarbonization -- for heat pumps, air conditioning, EVs, and data centers -- many utilities are in need of additional capacity.
Ted asks Zach about whether VGI might void warranties for batteries. Are concerns about additional cycling of batteries valid? This is certainly an important question. Zach notes that there is considerable research about this and that warranties are an issue. But batteries are "fickle," he explains. Some new studies suggest that light-duty cycling (8 - 11 kW) of EV batteries for VGI might actually be good for batteries' health and longevity, certainly less impactful than deep charging at rates up to 350 kW.
The conversation ends with the role of the Vehicle Grid Integration Council that he leads. VGIC is a member-based trade association focused on the variety of use cases... chief among them being household resilience for EV drivers. Forums managed by VGIC explore solar and storage-paired VGI, fleet management, and the role of aggregators in this growing market. VGIC is engaged with auto makers, utilities, and their regulators... all keen in developing this new capability.
