The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is working with 8 automakers and 15 electric utilities to develop an open platform that will integrate plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) with smart grid technologies.

PEVs will be a critical part of the smart grid of the future, serving as a distributed energy resource to support grid reliability, stability and efficiency. Grid operators may call on PEVs to contribute to grid reliability by balancing solar and wind generation, easing the strain of peak demand periods, and providing frequency regulation and voltage support.

The new platform will allow manufacturers to offer a customer-friendly interface through which PEV drivers can participate in utility PEV programs, such as rates for off-peak charging. Using an EV’s telematics system as a portal, it will enable the integration of automated metering infrastructure, home area networks, building energy management systems and third-party aggregators. Sumitomo Electric will develop the core platform technology on the first phase of the project.

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“A key aspect of the platform’s benefits will be giving customers flexibility and choices,” said Dan Bowermaster, EPRI’s Manager of Electric Transportation. “It can help the PEV customer determine the value of using their parked vehicle as a grid resource, and help the industry develop a convenient, user-friendly customer interface. We see this as the foundation for future developments to integrate PEVs with the grid.” 

Source: Electric Power Research Institute