Electrical Vehicle Used as ESS
A technology to transfer the electricity charged in electrical vehicles to electrical grids has been developed.
KEPCO said on March 29 it held ‘electric vehicle-electrical grid integrated technology fair’ in Korea Electric Power Research Institute (KEPRI) in Daejeon on the day and unveiled ‘VGI system based on international standards,’ which redirects the electricity charged in electric vehicles to KEPCO or electric car-electrical grid integrating service providers.
The VGI system is a technology allowing electric vehicles or chargers to transfer electricity and information bi-directionally through digital communication. Over 20 companies and academies, including KEPCO and KEPCO KDN, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis and Myongji Univ., started developing the international standard-based VGI system from 2012 and have completed the tests.
The system consists of devices for communication with electric vehicles and an operating system to control electric vehicle’s charge and discharge regulator and electric flow. The charge and discharge regulator has been developed in two types; an independent type for installation in small-sized tenement houses and a multi-connected type for installation in big shopping malls or apartments. Multi-type can control many charging sockets centrally and cut the cost of establishment of charging facilities, contributing to a quick spread of electric vehicle chargers.
Electric vehicle -electric grid integrating service providers can manage the charge and discharge of electric cars in real time through the operating system while electric car users can check the records and rate information on charge and discharge of their car through web or mobile phones.
This system has made it possible to use an electric vehicle as an ESS, which will contribute to expanding prosumer (a producer and consumer in one) who produces electric power in his or her electric vehicle and resell it.
An official from KEPCO said, “The company will develop extensively the VGI system so that it can be used in connection with various electric production and storage devices such as wireless charging electric cars, ESS, and new and renewable energy equipment.