# data[].attributes.headline
Sustainable Mobility | Automotive Research

# data[].attributes.subject
Sustainable Mobility | Automotive Research

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Researchers at the Center for Automotive Research explore a range of technological possibilities as they strive toward a higher standard of environmental consciousness, and their research reflects this. By looking toward a horizon of smart cities, vehicle-to-building interactions and alternative fuel methods, CAR engineers facilitate research endeavors that will only bring the world closer to a sustainable future.

# data[].attributes.headline
Electric Cars Provide Power Back to the Grid (And Get Paid for It) | PluginCars.com

# data[].attributes.subject
Electric Cars Provide Power Back to the Grid (And Get Paid for It) | PluginCars.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Everyone talks about charging electric cars from the grid, but not nearly as much about the grid charging from electric cars. That's a technology called vehicle to grid (V2G), and while it has a fairly long history (Rocky Mountain Institute guru Amory Lovins first talked about it in 1995, and Google has shown intermittent enthusiasm), it's still in the experimental stage.

The basic idea is that one car alone can't do much, but when 100 are plugged in the same time they represent a formidable amount of electric storage that utilities can call on during times of high demand. It's called load leveling or frequency regulation, and it will be more important as intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are added to the grid.

A Decade Away?

A Pike Research report sees a slow start for V2G, with only 100,000 cars able to return power to the grid by 2017. But the technology is moving forward, and Tom Gage, a celebrated name in EV history (he was behind not only the blisteringly fast TZero sports car, which became the Tesla Roadster, but also BMW's fleet of Mini E electrics) has climbed aboard with a new company called EV Grid.

There was synergy here. BMW is interested in V2G, and its high-spirited Mini Es (Gage loves regenerative braking) were through with their customer trials. BMW has worked closely with Gage, so when he left AC Propulsion in 2012 to set up EV Grid, he was able to grab a fleet of Mini Es (15 now) and with $400 of hardware per car convert them to V2G.

Getting BMW to Yes

Gage told me, "I'd been whispering in BMW's ear, telling them that the Mini E's are absolutely V2G capable, but they were preoccupied just getting the cars leased. But when the leases were over, what I heard was, 'Let's do it.' They wanted the cars owned by someone other than BMW."

The current program will last at least two years, Gage said, after which the participants are going to take stock. Meanwhile, another 15 Mini Es are in the pipeline. The current 15 cars are sitting stationary and able to deliver power as required, but the test will get more challenging with the next batch, which will be in regular fleet service at the University of Delaware. "We'll have the greater complexity of the cars not always being available," Gage said.

A Grid on Wheels

The fleet is running in conjunction in a project called Grid on Wheels with the University of Delaware (home to V2G pioneer Willett Kempton), utility NRG Energy and regional electricity organizer PJM Interconnection (operating in the eastern states). And it has actually paid off, in the amount of approximately $5 per car per day in March. The aggregated cars were able to deliver 100 kilowatts to PJM.

BMW will soon deliver the other 15 Mini Es, and it's a car well-suited to V2G with the addition of an 18-kilowatt AC Propulsion two-way charger. A number of electric Ford E-250 vans in regular fleet use will also be part of the trial through a company called AutoPort. With all the vehicles in place, it might be possible to deliver 300 kilowatts of just-in-time power.

A Smart System

This is intelligent two-way charging. According to the New York Times, "The cars listen for a signal from [PJM headquarters], that comes every four seconds. The signal could tell the batteries to charge, or to discharge, or to do neither. Alternatively, if the cars need charging, they can provide the same service by varying the amount of current they draw. For the grid, the effect is to add or subtract load in a coordinated way that aids stability."

Kempton said it's not only BMW that's interested in V2G. He's talking to a total of five automakers about it.

Gage thinks that EV Grid can commercialize V2G on a small scale within five years. "It could be sooner if the Department of Defense gets it together--they're very gung ho about it." Getting the tech beyond smaller scales depends on the pace of EV introduction, Gage said.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Electric Cars Provide Power Back to the Grid (And Get Paid for It)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The basic idea is that one car alone can't do much, but when 100 are plugged in the same time they represent a formidable amount of electric storage that utilities can call on during times of high demand.

# data[].attributes.headline
Emergence of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in Poland: Get Plugged In

# data[].attributes.subject
Emergence of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in Poland: Get Plugged In

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Electric vehicles (EV) are becoming one of the key points of focus for car manufacturers all over the world. Almost every major car manufacturer present in Europe has announced plans to extend its portfolio with either a mass-produced plug-in hybrid or fully electric plug-in electric vehicle by 2011-2012. Such factors as urban trends, consumer awareness and EU local governments' commitment to the EV determine vivid prospective for the plug-in electric vehicle market in Europe. Although the future of electric vehicles does seem extremely bright and promising, strong focus on electric vehicle infrastructure becomes a crucial matter to ensure proper functioning of the EV market in Europe. Poland is one step closer towards being EV-friendly now: several Polish cities are expected to be ready for electric vehicles to plug in by July 2010. The timing appears to be accurate: developing electric vehicle infrastructure now means being ready when demand is there.
Details:

Vitaly Belskiy

Research Analyst

Automotive & Transportation Practice Group
Dynamic development of the electric vehicle market sets a number of challenges ahead for the EV market participants. Developing an effective EV charging infrastructure becomes a priority for the key market stakeholders. On average, current EV range is still limited to 60-80 miles on full charge (with normal charging time of 6-8 hours) which means that EV use range is expected to be limited to short and predictable routes in three main urban areas: work, home and commerce. Provision of charging infrastructure in the proximity to these areas is a first step toward expansion of EV. The next step is expansion of EV charging infrastructure at the key city points to match people's flows.

Needless to say, that EV charging infrastructure market success and dynamics are not the matter of particular market players' efforts but are strictly determined by the cooperation and integration of the main market stakeholders: car manufacturers, battery manufacturers, charging station manufacturers, energy providers and integrators creating partnerships with utilities, OEMs and government sc. Such cooperation is expected to be vital for resolving key issues of the market: charging time and safety (through charging station manufacturers - battery manufacturers cooperation) promotion of electric vehicles usage (through cooperation between electric vehicle manufacturers and battery manufacturers), promoting electricity as a fuel (through electric vehicle manufacturer - utility provider cooperation). Frost & Sullivan predicts quadruple growth in number of charging stations in Europe during the first 3-4 years. In the consecutive years, market growth is expected to slow down to 2-2.5 times as consumers will become more educated of how to best use charging stations rather than charging infrastructure itself. Such sharp increase in the number of charging stations (up to around 360,000 units to be installed by 2015 from 4,316 in 2009) is expected to be driven by the fast growing number of electric vehicles in the market, which are estimated to hit the level of 470,000 units in 2015. Local governments of EU members plan to spend a substantial amount of money on EV infrastructure (France has revealed its plans to spend €1.5 bln on EV infrastructure development recently) which will support installing charging services and test projects. Combined with other local incentives promoting usage of electric vehicles, such as discount on the purchase price, tax reduction or exemption, free parking, use of exclusive lines, these measures are expected to significantly accelerate EV market growth.

Poland is making significant steps towards creating a plug-in vehicles charging infrastructure market recently. Regional Development Agency, responsible for local socio-economic development support and promotion, has initiated a project called "Creating Market for Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure as a Foundation for Energy Independence". According to the project, proper functioning EV charging infrastructure in Poland is perceived as an important part of the energy network transformation, which would consist of small and dispersed alternative sources of renewable energy (EV battery would function as loads while connected to the smart grid). Financed by the EU, this project provides €0,86 mln for delivery and installation of the EV charging station infrastructure. Five Polish cities are to be equipped with 120 EV charging points (330 vehicle couplers) by July 2010: 136 vehicle couplers in Warsaw (including 10 inductive charging stations), 54 in Gdansk, 54 in Katowice, 53 in Krakow and 33 in Mielec. "Such charging points would be located in public and easy-accessible locations and several additional solutions (ex. free parking at the point of charging) are being discussed at the moment"- says Jacek Janowski, Chairman of Green Stream Polska, main contractor of the project. Green Stream Polska represents another example of innovative thinking in the industry. It has an ambitious plan to create an Intelligent Energy System in Poland (starting with smaller local Intelligent Energy Systems at regional level). V2G (Vehicle to Grid) system is perceived as a vital part of the Intelligent Energy System. "EV charging infrastructure has a substantial potential of growth in Poland, yet all efforts shall be combined if we want to achieve the highest efficiency in that area" - outlines Jacek Janowski (Green Stream Polska).

Another market participant, Polish-based company Ekoenergetyka-Zachod (cooperating with University of Zielona Gora) has developed several solutions for the EV charging stations in Poland. Smaller network of the first EV charging stations is to be installed and tested at the beginning of 2010 in four locations: Zielona Gora (3-4 charging stations), Sulechow, Pila, Sieradz. "Economic downturn will not affect company's plans to install EV charging stations" - says Maciej Wojenski, co-founder of the company.

EV charging infrastructure has a bright future in Poland supported by broad knowledge in the area, intensive cooperation between main market participants and advanced technological solutions, yet intensive collaboration and integration is absolutely vital to ensure that all efforts generate the maximum effect.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Emergence of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in Poland: Get Plugged In

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Electric vehicles (EV) are becoming one of the key points of focus for car manufacturers all over the world. Almost every major car manufacturer present in Europe has announced plans to extend its portfolio with either a mass-produced plug-in hybrid or fully electric plug-in electric vehicle by 2011-2012.