Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

silverwhistle

It was me that sent that particular hare running. The V2L on my MG4 has been very useful..

As for V2H, I know the forum member Stageshoot on the SpeakEV forum rigged up a homebrew system, although I believe he may have changed cars so not sure of the current situation. Have a search on that forum for that user and his description of how he did it.

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81937474#Comment_81937474

Thanks.

I'm not typically an early adopter of new tech, so I'd rather wait until the glitches are worked out and it's just commonplace plug and play. Our current car has a couple years left in it yet, I'm sure.

Magnitio

The Sigenergy DC bi-directional charger is an interesting option, but you have to install it as part of their ecosystem.

https://www.sigenergy.com/en/products/dc-charger

Demo here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhMByuiEmpY

Martyn1981

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81937390#Comment_81937390

Progress is still being made, but painfully slow. Trials in the UK have been on and off for some time*, and I think (may be making this up) that Australia is trialing and trying to standardise the V2G chargers. [* I got turned down in 2019 for a trial when the DNO said my house connection didn't have enough headroom for more potential export. That kind of situation may now be resolved, as at the time, whilst the kit could limit total export to the grid, so no chance of being cumulative with my PV permission, it hadn't yet been certified for DNO compliance.]

I was incredibly bullish about V2G, since it had the potential to provide pretty much the whole UK's intraday storage needs, ~500GWh. But as the years have gone on, and the cost of the chargers remain high, potentially £3k+ (but I assume will continue to get cheaper), I'm not as big a fan now.

Nothing really wrong with V2X, very useful I think, it's just that demand side stationary storage is getting ever cheaper. So the big benefit of V2X, in getting home storage and backup 'for free', is waning a bit.

The huge win for V2H or V2L IMO will be for properties considering going off grid. No need to build out RE gen and batts to the worst days, and potentially a petrol gennie too. Now they could take their 'portable battery' to a charging station, and bring loads of leccy home in the more extreme edge cases.

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81937915#Comment_81937915

Thanks Martyn,

It does seem counter-productive when one considers what V2G could do in a similar vein to IOF, whereby the energy company uses the vehicle resource to supplement and stabilise/balance the grid, but the DNOs won't allow export as the grid already has too much. There's no distinction between the unwanted export from solar at midday saturating the grid and the highly valued export at peak demand times or for grid balancing. In other words, there's simply no joined up thinking about how best to use the resources we have available.

michaels

been using V2g then V2H for nearly 6 years. Best thing ever tbh. Leaf Chademo trial, 6kw in and out. Have had a leaf 40 for the last 2 years used only for storage. tbh could probably DIY a battery same cost and capacity now.

QrizB

An EV article from New Zealand, where they're entirely dependent on imports for their oil products:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360951056/would-be-week-drive-ev-thanks-nothing-coalition

silverwhistle

Nothing really wrong with V2X, very useful I think, it's just that demand side stationary storage is getting ever cheaper. So the big benefit of V2X, in getting home storage and backup 'for free', is waning a bit.

I'm only V2L, and normally only the evening Agile peak but used it this morning for breakfast and random domestic stuff. As a single low user with solar the economics of a fixed battery haven't been there, nor the space, but as I'm having a little work done and hope to get an A2A heat pump the electrics are being upgraded and space in an outbuilding should become available. Martyn's comment has just made me think I ought to ensure cable runs etc. are future proofed. As the work is being done for free by my bestie that won't be a problem!

There are some very low prices again this weekend with Agile so with a fullish car battery I need to draw down a bit. A bit of an incentive to do some vacuuming!;-)

Martyn1981

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939275#Comment_81939275

Funnily enough, I was thinking of you and V2L, when pondering V2X in general. My thought too was that it could run an A2A unit all the time you are home. Maybe switching to cheap rate for night use. 'Just' need to have the plug end of an extension lead outside (I assume), to plug into car when you get home. Is that how you think it will be used, I am guessing a bit?

I'm assuming that an ext lead would be fine in this role, as sustained demand will probably only be 500W-700W, so shouldn't overheat, just make sure it's 13A.

thevilla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939452#Comment_81939452

I think, and I am not an electrician, that it is only safe to use equipment on V2L which does not require an earth connection. I'm guessing A2A units need earthing?