How advanced smart Electric Vehicle (EV) charging can benefit drivers, companies and the power grid was explored at a seminar CTEK took part in during Energimässan, Sweden's largest energy expo and conference.

Stefan Gabrielsson, CTEK Product Manager, participated in a panel discussion on smart charging which investigated why technology such as Vehicle to Grid (V2G) has not yet been implemented at scale.

By feeding energy from the EV battery to the grid, V2G can potentially help the grid manage peak demand and reduce bills for drivers and fleet operators.

Asked whether the technology of V2G is ready for more widespread adoption, Stefan said the development of smart charging had occurred in steps, firstly by controlling the charging current to protect a building's main fuse and later by managing the current to avoid or reduce exposure to peak electricity prices.

Stefan said the V2G standard is now available in the hardware – CTEK's CC3 and CC3i chargepoints are both V2G ready – but what is needed to enable its use is the service offers from the operators.

"From a technology perspective the potential is there," said Stefan, "now it is more about the offer for the end users to take part. Is it free parking for drivers in public car parks? Is it payments to companies with workplace parking? Is it money off bills for domestic consumers?"

Stefan was also asked which link in the chain from grid to charging operator to chargepoint to EV should be making the decision of when to start and stop V2G discharge.

Stefan said: "The worry is that if it's a simple signal from the grid the other loads in the EV chargepoint's installation, such as heat pump, might take up the newly available power with zero benefit for the grid.

"Instead, the control signal should go to a building's energy management system, which can coordinate the significant loads so there is real benefit for the grid. Such a system is more appropriate for and likely to be found in larger buildings. But the problem also exists for home charging."

Also on the panel at Energimässan were representatives of Volkswagen Group Sverige, Voltiva, E.ON Energidistribution and Checkwatt. They were asked by moderator Linda Thell Marklund, from Power Circle, what are the most important reasons why more advanced smart charging is not being implemented?

Stefan said: "Firstly, the technology standard is there for DC V2G and will follow soon for AC. The EV manufacturers need to enable V2G in their EVs in a more widespread and fully standardised way. Then it's about the offer to businesses and consumers being ready and being enticing and convincing."

Last year CTEK played a key role in a groundbreaking trial of V2G AC bidirectional charging using EVs from Volvo Cars which included eleven CC3 chargepoints at three locations in Gothenburg.

Volvo employees drove specially modified test cars (EX40 and C40 models) and series production cars (EX90) and plugged in when parked at one of the test site car parks equipped with the CC3 chargepoints.

The drivers did not have to initiate or direct V2G activity, that was determined by communications between the CC3, Volvo's backend and the energy provider. The test cars identified themselves to the CC3s using the Autocharge method.