Toyota’s bZ4X battery electric vehicle (BEV) and Pepco, a regional energy provider, have teamed up to investigate the possibilities of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. Through this agreement, bidirectional power flow—which allows BEV owners to send power back to the grid and charge their cars—will be developed and evaluated.
Undertaken at Pepco’s Watershed Sustainability Center in Rockville, Maryland, the research project will concentrate on comprehending EV users’ requirements, charging routines, and vehicle utilization. This data is essential for promoting the broad implementation of V2G technology. Maryland’s EV industry is expanding quickly, and the state plans to have 300,000 EVs on the road by 2025, making it a perfect place for this research.
Improved energy resilience and dependability, enhanced integration of renewable energy sources, and possibly lower consumer electricity bills are just a few advantages that V2G technology may bring about. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology can help maintain the stability of regional energy systems by enabling cars to send power back to the grid in times of high demand or emergency.
Group vice president of Toyota EV Charging Solutions Christopher Yang states, “Bidirectional charging is a great way for customers to leverage their electric vehicles in a way that supports the grid and their home electricity ecosystem.” In the end, he said, partnering with Pepco will help Toyota better understand grid demands and serve customers by assisting with the understanding of charging and discharging use cases.
Pepco is helping Maryland’s EV market flourish by putting 250 EV chargers around the counties of Prince George’s and Montgomery. The Distributed Renewable Integration and Vehicle Electrification (DRIVE) Act, which was recently passed in the state and mandates that utilities provide bidirectional charger hookup procedures, making this the perfect place for this research.
Pepco Holdings President and CEO Tyler Anthony stressed the value of adopting technology that powers the shift to renewable energy. “V2G is designed to connect with the local energy grid and is part of our roadmap to ensure a successful and equitable energy transition,” he stated.
The demonstration project could benefit the grid and customers by assisting Pepco in designing and assessing different EV charging and discharging use cases. Comprehending the infrastructure required for V2G will also help Pepco get ready for the EV charging infrastructure’s explosive expansion and the integration of numerous V2G assets.
Toyota has committed to increasing the number of electric vehicles it offers. By 2030, it hopes to have 30 BEV models available worldwide and generate up to 3.5 million BEVs annually. The Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ are the business’s current mass-market BEVs available in the United States and Canada. The company has also revealed plans to construct two new three-row BEV SUVs at its manufacturing facilities in Kentucky and Indiana.
This partnership between Toyota and Pepco, which uses cutting-edge technology to benefit both customers and the larger energy grid, is a big step towards a more robust and sustainable energy future. Partnerships like this one will be vital in determining the future of electric vehicles and the energy infrastructure supporting them as the transportation sector continues to change.