‘A house battery you can drive around’: how some Australians are selling power from their cars back to the grid | Scott Dwyer, Jaime Comber and Kriti Nagrath for the Conversation

S.Your car is sitting unused most of the time. If you You have an electric carYou may let her charge at home or work after driving. But there is another step that you can take. If you have a two -way charger, you can set it to sell energy again to the network when the order is high.

Less than 10 people around Australia are doing this already, because technology-known as a vehicle to the V2G network-is very new. To date, it only works with one car model (Nissan Leaf) and one charger (Wallbox Quasar 1). We have estimated the number of users based on the sales of this charger. Expensive shipping devices and there is a set of navigation regulations.

But this can change soon. Last year, the Minister of Climate Change announced, Chris Bowen, New Australian standards And the protocols of the two -way communications in an attempt to make them prevailing. The cheapest EVS and two -directionary faces will make this more attractive.

If it is stopped, the V2G may become very useful for the power network as a means of power to launch as required and stabilize the network against fluctuations.

This week, the Renewable Energy Agency in Australia I released the V2G Road MapIt is noticed that widespread absorption “can” materially reduce electricity costs for consumers and accelerate the reduction of national emissions. “

To understand why people use technology and the challenges needed to do this, we met five of the New South Wales and South Australia. The results we have reached Today’s release.

V2G preparation is not easy

I am informed of our interviews to a long and complex trip to create a V2G. These first adopters did not have any book playing, so the process was one of the experience and error.

Some relied on professional networks or social media groups to collect information. They spent a lot of time and energy to find electricians, fixtures and charger manufacturers to prepare their systems. Class approvals were required. They also had to negotiate with retailers and distributors.

The delay was common, especially when requesting approval from the power distributor. Some of the people with whom I have interviewed delay from months to years.

Most people who had experienced an artistic field such as engineering or technology had. Some reported an important educational curve, while others who used new programs from the retail seller have informed more smooth “group and forget”.

Why do you do that? People who were interviewed had several reasons, starting with the most expensive benefit from expensive assets (Solar and EV) to completely compensate for energy bills.

Four out of five of them reported with small profit interviews of about $ 1,000 annually instead of an invoice. Many wanted to be able to reduce the dependence on the network and reduce their environmental impact.

As one told us:

You originally think about it as a car that you can also use to operate your home. [But actually] It is a home battery in which you can drive.

Glaming the savings

Usually, those who were interviewed with them were connected to their car during the day to ship them from solar energy on the roof. In the evening when the energy prices reached their peak, they used an application to sell energy again to the network. This reinforced their cost savings to charge the car battery and its profits from the network.

For example, a V2G user was alerted by an energy retail dealer that energy prices have risen to more than $ 20 per kilowatt hour-much higher than regular rates from 25 to 45 cents. They immediately set their car and the home battery to sell energy again to the network. Within two hours, they sold 28 kilowatts of power for the network and got more than $ 560. They also told us: “I look forward to more of these events.”

Often, those who have had power devices with them, solar energy and car battery levels to improve their production. To avoid the EV battery is very low, put a minimum – for example 30 % of shipping – then their car will stop energy.

Is there a negative side?

One of the main reasons that people in the V2G doubt about anxiety about the accelerated battery deterioration.

This is a common concern. But so far, there is no consensus that shows the V2G shortening the life of the EVS battery. one A recent study It shows that it increases the deterioration by 0.3 % per year. But another appearance may v2G actually Extension of the battery life In some scenarios.

Last year, We included the survey More than 1,300 members of the auto organization about their view of V2G technology. We found a battery guarantee a greater concern than the battery life. This is because most of the EV manufacturers, unlike Nissan, do not mention V2G in their battery guarantees, leading drivers to believe that they may empty their guarantee using V2G.

Awareness of V2G technology grows. The survey also found that approximately 40 % of the respondents were very familiar or somewhat with a V2G, a 17 % jump who reported familiarity in 2022. Among the owners of EV, almost 90 % of knowledge of the concept.

The first adoption exceeded

In order to start V2G, the process must be simpler, cheaper and easier to set up. To accelerate absorption, reliable, and accessible information necessary.

The expansion of government incentives programs to include two -way charging will reduce the cost provided and make them easier.

Even inside the EV supply chain, the V2G knowledge is limited. Car agents will need to know the models that work with V2G.

Electricians may need specific training to install and maintain these chargers.

EVS decreases in the price as manufacturers compete for the market share Options become cheaper. V2G capabilities may help increase sales for competing car companies.

With more car drivers turned into EVS, attention will be increased in V2G. Although V2G can enhance EVS’s attractiveness, there are others, such as from the car to the house (using your car to operate your home during power outages or to save money) and download (using EV to operate power or devices).

Each of these consumers can help get more value from parked vehicles in the corridors and grooms.

• Scott Duaire, Jimmy Comper and Crete Nagrath are the director of research, first research advisor and director of research in the future of energy at the University of Sydney. This article appeared originally In the conversation.