TECHNOLOGY

56

One of the ways we are making EVs more attractive to businesses is through smart charging technology . Smart charging , an umbrella term that covers all intelligent functionalities in charging stations , allows customers greater control over how and when their car charges . For example , smart charging can allow customers to charge their vehicles at times when electricity is cheaper , such as overnight . This means that they avoid peak time costs .

Linked to smart charging is Vehicle to Grid technology ( V2G ), which enables power to be drawn from car batteries and fed back into the grid when the car is not in use . Selling unused energy back to the grid allows customers to generate an additional stream of revenue that goes hand-in-hand with the cost saving function of smart charging .

Using the V2G systems ’ storage capacity , EVs can send unused electricity back to the grid for customers to either participate in energy markets by sending it back to the grid , providing savings on energy costs and generating additional revenue , or to use the energy themselves .

V2G chargers can therefore help businesses generate revenues from vehicles

— Philip Valarino , Electric Vehicles Lead , EDF Energy

NOVEMBER 2019