General Motors collaborates with San Diego Gas & Electric (PG&E) to optimize energy distribution through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) application, as per Electrek.
In hindsight, the American automaker has announced a total commitment to the electric vehicle market with its “EV for everyone” plan. General Motors CEO Mary Barra has even asserted that GM will overtake market leader Tesla by 2025.
Travis Hester, vice president of GM’s EV growth operations, announced:
“As GM continues on its journey towards an all-electric future, expanding the capabilities of EVs represents a significant opportunity to help strengthen grid resiliency and mitigate the impact of disruptions.”
General Motors’ EV efforts: GM Energy
General Motors has introduced a number of innovative electric models to accelerate its electrification. One of these is the Chevy Equinox EV, with a starting price of about $30,000.
The American automaker also unveiled GM Energy as its new business division in October. Through a range of new products, reliable home backup power, and a network of charging stations, the newly found company aims to “reimagine” our current energy infrastructure.
Furthermore, General Motors seeks to offer customers access to advance technology through GM Energy.
These technologies are as follows:
- Bidirectional charging
- Vehicle-to-home (V2H)
- Vehicle-to-grid (V2G)
- Stationary energy storage
- Solar energy and microgrid solutions
Notably, GM claimed it was already testing V2H applications with PG&E after announcing the launch of GM Energy.
The partners are remarkably advancing with the said technology. They collaboratively explore how EVs, chargers, and batteries may improve the grid through the V2G integrations.
GM and SDG&E explore EV V2G applications
GM and SDG&E signed an agreement to explore potential uses of electric vehicles with bidirectional charging to the grid. Notably, the primary purpose of this project is to improve the grid’s stability at times of high demand.
GM and SDG&E will implement a comprehensive strategy while researching the following approaches to hasten the adoption of V2G technology:
- Best V2H practices documentation so that customers may easily see their benefits
- Developing systems that aid utility companies and automakers in utilizing cloud-based energy management platforms and distributed energy resources (EVs with V2G) to build Virtual Power Plants
- Exploring the use of electric vehicles to support microgrid settings and encourage grid resilience in communities. When there is a power outage, microgrids are made to utilize the battery-stored energy as a backup.
That said, GM and SDG&E will examine three V2G system integration, including V2H, V2G, and Virtual Power Plants.
Apart from these, the two companies have inked the Vehicle to Everything (V2X) Memorandum of Understanding. It is noteworthy that it pools resources from the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Rima Oueid, a US DOE technology transitions commercialization executive, stated:
“Bidirectional charging holds tremendous potential for increasing the country’s energy security and grid reliability in addition to supporting economic opportunities for communities throughout the nation.”
Integrating electric vehicles with bidirectional charging stands to reason as the shift to clean mobility intensifies. This technology allows EV owners to plug in their cars to power their homes in case of a power outage.
Furthermore, electric vehicles can provide energy if high energy demand increases instead of relying on polluting peaker plants.
