These electric cars can power a home with two-way V2G power
On January 19, during the demonstration against the pension reform, the threat of power cuts came up again. Logically, if workers stop working, industries no longer produce, and for power plants this can quickly become a real problem. A recent scientific study confirmed the Minister of Environment’s claims about the ability of electric vehicles equipped with V2G (Vehicle to Grid) technology to contribute to energy sustainability thanks to their batteries. to supply the home network with electricity. If you have an electric car, you may want to know if it works with this technology. For example, as shown by EcoWatt, a system that allows you to charge a car while simultaneously using the energy stored in the battery for other uses during consumption peaks. But what are V2G compatible cars, we will explain everything to you.
What is bidirectional V2G charging?
New generation electric vehicles such as Mitsubishi or Nissan are equipped with V2G compatible batteries. This means that the battery can charge or discharge as needed. The idea is to use your car battery for a second time when you are not using it. For example, you can use the electricity stored in your car during peak consumption to power your private grid. V2G is therefore the technology that makes this possible draw energy stored in your battery to redistribute in the power grid.
How does this work?
Thanks to the two-way terminal, the user can then choose to use the electricity stored in its battery to power its network. Let’s take the example of a user charging his car using solar terminals or company terminals. When he returns home in the evening, he can “plug” his car into the terminal to use the electricity stored in his car. During off-peak hours and when needs are almost non-existent inside, the terminal will revert to car charging. To do this, simply configure the program, for example, at seven in the morning, asking for the battery to always be charged to 80 or 100%. The terminal will take care of sending your electricity back to the grid to charge your car’s battery.
Which vehicles are compatible with V2G?
Today, only a few models are compatible with V2G technology, and this mainly applies to company cars. To find out if your vehicle is compatible, simply check the availability of a CHAdeMO socket to charge or discharge the battery.
Cars compatible with this technology:
- Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV)
- Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV)
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV)
Today, only a few specific models are compatible with V2G:
- Nissan Leaf
- Nissan e-NV200
- Peugeot iON
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- Mitsubishi iMiev
- Citroen C0.
Cars (e.g. Peugeot iON car) must be equipped with a CHAdeMO socket. Photo credit: Shutterstock
The Mitsubishi iMiev is also on the list of eligible electric vehicles. Illustrative picture is not a contract. Photo credit: Shutterstock
They all work with a V2G charging station supplied by DREEV (EDF group).
What does V2G do to a car battery?
Obviously, if your battery is used to power your network, it will be more stressed in terms of charging cycles. According to professionals and manufacturers, this technology can actually increase battery life, if the management of the charging and discharging stages is done correctly. To take advantage of this new technology, the researchers devised an algorithm that maximizes battery life and minimizes V2G-related degradations. Currently, Mitsubishi vehicles are likely to be the most successful in the V2G space, which will likely expand in the coming years. It should be noted that Japan is subject to frequent power outages (earthquakes, typhoons, etc.), and V2G in this country meets the real needs of residents.
