Future Transport Systems - Vehicle to Grid opportunity study

Vehicle to Grid (V2G) describes the ability to discharge electricity from plug-in electric
vehicles (EV) into the grid and often includes discharging into islanded networks as well as
into the wider ‘open’ grid.
In the context of international trends towards smarter/low carbon grid networks, it is predicted
by Ricardo, National Grid and others that the mobile electricity storage potential of V2G
operation could play a valuable role in grid balancing (reducing demand and providing power
to the grid). Providing a grid balancing service will add a new value stream to several cost
models, not least that of EVs.
As part of its strategy to develop and commercialise technologies integrating the new energy
and mobility sectors, FTS has undertaken background research into current V2G technologies
and pilots projects. Based on this research FTS (with SSE and other partners) is proceeding
with the development of a generic V2G system which will test the fundamentals, including;
battery degradation and energy losses, on and off-board control systems, grid integration,
operational control etc.
This study will characterise the market potential for V2G technologies and segment it by
technical solutions and types of value offered. This segmentation will define what technical
adaptations will need to be made to the generic system to meet a range of niche market needs.
The study is innovative in aiming to segment and quantify the potential V2G market so that
specific technical adaptations can be developed to provide early adopting niche markets with
specifically developed V2G functionality.
Identification and prioritisation of these niche market segments will enable FTS to develop
robust technical and market development strategies thereby enabling the ultimate systems to
be commercialised as effectively as possible.
The study will also identify potential partners and customers with whom FTS can work to
develop large scale pilot projects and commercialise the final system