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Eon and Nissan have installed 20 vehicle-to-grid (V2G) chargers at the carmaker’s European Technical Centre in Cranfield as part of a new trial exploring how the technology can generate revenues for businesses operating fleets of electric vehicles (EVs).
The chargers will be controlled using a combination of Eon’s virtual power plant software and an EV charging platform provided by Virta.
“Now that we’ve proven the technology’s capabilities with these 20 installs, we’re a step closer to bringing it to market,” said Luke Ellis, V2G programme manager for Eon UK.
“This is about commercialising a vehicle’s bi-directional charging capabilities, with clear advantages for businesses either already with a fleet of electric vehicles or those that are ready to make the transition to electric.”
He continued: “Fleet vehicles which sit idle overnight, or even during the working day, could see their batteries charged when demand is low, with the energy exported when demand is high, but still be charged and ready for use when required.
“V2G technology brings with it wider environmental benefits for society as a whole. It can be considered ‘carbon negative’ for its potential to reduce or even remove the need for fossil-fuelled generation to be fired up at times of peak electricity demand.”
Peter McDonald, fleet director at Nissan Motor GB, said: “We know many fleets are not just looking at electric vehicle acquisition, they are also reviewing their energy infrastructure for a world where electric vehicles are fast becoming the norm. Nissan is collaborating with Eon on this exciting energy infrastructure project to expedite V2G technology in the UK.”
Other partners on the e4Future project, which is being partly funded by Innovate UK, include Northern Powergrid, UK Power Networks and National Grid Electricity System Operator. The consortium is now recruiting outside participants for the trial, who will be offered charging equipment at a “heavily subsidised” price.
Meanwhile, the first in a series of more than 40 EV charging stations being installed across North and South Lanarkshire as part of Project Pace has been opened at Strathclyde Country Park.
The Scottish government has invested £5.3 million in the project, which will see the installation of up to 180 new chargepoints for its public EV charging network, ChargePlace Scotland. Its partners include SP Energy Networks, Transport Scotland and the North and South Lanarkshire Councils.
Vicky Kelsall, chief operating officer at SP Energy Networks, said: “This project provides an incredible acceleration of electric transport in Lanarkshire to ensure no community is left behind.
“Our optioneering study identified over 40 community hubs where it will be most effective to install public electric vehicle chargers that offer universal access. The six new chargers in Strathclyde Country Park are just the start as we roll out 180 across North and South Lanarkshire.”
And finally, the SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust (SEEIT) – the UK’s first listed investment fund dedicated to energy efficiency – has agreed to buy 112 EV charging stations across the UK from Electric Vehicle Network (EVN) for a total of up to £50 million.
The charging stations, which are still under development by EVN, will be acquired by SEEIT once they are ready for construction and the contracts have been awarded.
Each site is expected to take between six and twelve weeks to complete. Once operational, they will be leased out to chargepoint operators under 20-year fixed price agreements.
EVN is also planning to develop a further 380 charging stations, requiring an additional £150 million of investment, for which SEEIT has a right of first negotiation.
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