Japanese legacy automaker Toyota announced the new partnership it formed with utility giant San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) to expand its research initiatives for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology with its electric SUV bZ4X.
Partnership details
According to the press release, the partnership will primarily work on “bidirectional power flow technology” that allows all-electric vehicles (BEV) to collect and return power from the electrical grid,
Toyota indicated that the V2G capability could improve the stability of the electrical grid, especially considering the rapid growth of electric vehicles in the world.
“We are embracing the concept of an entire electrified ecosystem for our customers, and the ability for vehicles to integrate with the grid is an essential component of this ecosystem. Working with leading utilities, such as SDG&E, will ensure that customers can continue to confidently charge at home.”
Christopher Yang, group vice president, Toyota EV Charging Solutions
Purpose
That said, the two companies seek to determine synergies between customer needs and the electrical grid conditions. They also intend to determine the most effective approach to educating customers regarding the bidirectional technology’s advantages.
“Toyota seeks to empower utilities to better anticipate and leverage the significant number of plug-in hybrid and BEVs on their grids, both as a growing source of energy demand and, in the future, energy supply.”
Christopher Yang, group vice president, Toyota EV Charging Solutions
The Hill noted that the partners plan to hold the research project at SDG&E’s campus in San Diego, California. They will utilize the bidirectional charger and V2G platform developed by Fermata Energy.
Significance
Toyota noted that almost 80% of BEV owners charge their batteries using their home chargers overnight as they take advantage of the notably lower demand at these hours, according to Times of San Diego.
Interestingly, V2G technology can enable these BEVs to return excess energy to the electrical grid during high demand and other instances like rotating outages due to shortage.
Apart from supporting the electrical grid, V2G technology also aids electric vehicle owners in saving money on electricity bills. It also boosts the global push to adopt renewable energy as it is also capable of tapping into solar power.
“V2G has the potential to be a game changer for the power grid and for consumers, and we’re proud to partner with Toyota to advance this technology. Together, we’re forging new pathways toward a sustainable and resilient energy future for our customers and the communities we serve.”
SDG&E Chief Commercial Officer Miguel Romero
This V2G research between the two major companies will undoubtedly help current and future owners benefit from the full potential of their battery-electric vehicles. It will also help Toyota in determining the necessary technologies it needs to advance in the highly competitive market, with an annual production target of 3.5 BEVs by 2030. Likewise, it will also enable SDG&E to apprehend the necessary infrastructures to expand its network.
