Ideal Power Converters (IPC) announced that the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has successfully demonstrated vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities using IPC’s bi-directional Battery Converter. V2G allows vehicles to exchange power with the electricity grid, providing benefits such as local peak demand reduction.

IPC’s wall-mounted Battery Converter is based on a hardware platform that the company already uses in its 30 kW, 480 Vac photovoltaic inverter. It uses a standard SAE J1772 combo connector to provide bi-directional power between an EV battery and the power grid. It’s aimed at commercial fleet operators, and is scheduled to begin shipping in 2013.

“Through the active support of NREL’s efforts, Ideal Power Converters is committed to making V2G cost effective to improve the economics of electric vehicle fleets,” said company CEO Paul Bundschuh. “It is part of IPC’s strategy to offer highly-efficient, low-cost modular power converters for photovoltaic, grid storage, and EV fast charging that will improve efficiency and cost of hybrid energy systems.”

Source: Ideal Power Converters
Image: saragoldsmith