In a trial conducted by CSIRO in NSW, an electric car and a bi-directional charger are being used to power a ‘house of the future.’ This trial aims to explore the potential of using vehicle batteries as energy solutions for homes in the future.
Electric vehicle (EV) owners are familiar with charging their cars at home, but the trial seeks to test whether they can also use their cars to power their houses when needed. The research is being conducted at Essential Energy’s Innovation Hub in Port Macquarie, where a Nissan Leaf electric car will be connected to a bi-directional charger. The setup includes a simulated home environment with various appliances like a television, pool pump, hot water system, fridge, dishwasher, and clothes dryer.
The CSIRO team, led by Kate Cavanagh, will assess whether energy stored in the electric car battery can effectively power a household. The goal is to understand how vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology can be utilized in the Australian context. V2G technology allows energy to flow from the car’s battery to the home and back to the grid, similar to solar panel installations.
If successful, EVs could serve as efficient solar batteries for homes, reducing demand during peak times and potentially lowering power companies’ costs. The trial will also explore different household power scenarios to test the limits of this technology.
Apart from the CSIRO trial, other projects in Australia are also investigating V2G technology. NRMA, iMove, and the University of Technology Sydney are collaborating on a project, while Amber Electric has partnered with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for a separate trial. These initiatives aim to understand consumer attitudes towards the technology and explore ways to implement it in Australia.
While there is widespread interest in V2G technology, its approval and adoption in Australia are still limited. Only some electric vehicles currently support this technology, with brands like Nissan, Volkswagen, Cupra, and Mitsubishi incorporating it into their vehicles. However, there is growing interest from other manufacturers, such as Tesla, in potentially including V2G support in future models.
Overall, the trial conducted by CSIRO and Essential Energy, along with other ongoing projects, will provide valuable insights into the potential of V2G technology in transforming homes into more energy-efficient and sustainable spaces. Please rewrite the following sentence:
“The new policy will be implemented starting next month.”
“The new policy is set to go into effect at the beginning of the upcoming month.”
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