Smart Charging

Smart charging provides a communication network between electric vehicles, the battery charging equipment and a smart electric grid.

1. This can enable electric vehicles that are plugged in for charging to help stabilize the electric grid. a) Temporarily suspending EV charging can help prevent blackouts whenever electric demand exceeds electric generation capacity, b) EVs could provide even greater protection against blackouts if electric utilities could temporarily take power back from the EV batteries into the electric grid at critical times (i.e. vehicle-to-grid). c) EV charging could be increased whenever there is a surplus of electricity available from intermittent power sources such as wind and solar. d) Drivers who allow their EVs to participate in smart charging could get cash rebates from the electric utilities.

2. Smart charging could also enable the EV driver to program a charging session either for immediate charging or for delayed charging at a time when electric rates will be lower.

Smart Charging News

• The Newest Demand Response Participant: Electric Vehicles - The Energy Collective 02nov2014 "tests to see if cloud computing can be used in transporting a message directly to electric vehicles. The message is designed to ask that the car’s owner briefly suspend charging to boost grid stability, which prevents local blackouts. If the owner agrees to participate, he is compensated for his energy reduction."
• Delta and DTE Energy Introduce Next-Generation Smart EV Chargers and Site Management System, Enabling Comprehensive Management of EV Charging - Yahoo Finance Canada 29oct2014 "Latest communication and computing technologies from Delta are expected to minimize impact of EV charging on the grid and foster EV infrastructure of the future"
• Greenlots And Powertech Labs Usher in EV Smart-Charging for the Connected Home of the Future | Virtual-Strategy Magazine 29oct2014 "With the union of EV chargers, automated demand response, and a broadband connection, electric vehicles are now viewed as the next smart home appliance, taking the Internet of things to the next level."
• Can plug-in EVs enhance grid reliability? EPRI and others are betting on it - Smart Grid News 17oct2014 "many utilities, particularly those dealing with large amounts of intermittent renewables, want to use EVs to smooth the variable output of those renewables." "EPRI is collaborating with eight car companies and 15 utilities to create a communications architecture that benefits utilities and equipment manufacturers as well as PEV owners and electricity users."

See more about: Why Vehicles Need to use Electricity.