How do you assess the environmental and social impacts of V2G on the grid and the community?

2 V2G costs

On the other hand, V2G also entails costs and challenges for EV fleet owners and operators. The most significant cost is the battery degradation, which results from the increased cycling and stress on the battery cells. Battery degradation can reduce the range, performance, and lifespan of the EVs, as well as increase the maintenance and replacement costs. Other costs include the installation and operation of bidirectional chargers, communication devices, and smart meters, as well as the transaction and coordination costs of participating in the V2G market. Moreover, V2G may pose risks to the grid stability and security, such as overloading, voltage fluctuations, and cyberattacks.

3 V2G impact assessment

To evaluate the net benefits of V2G for EV fleets, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive and holistic impact assessment that considers the technical, economic, environmental, and social aspects. A common method is to use a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework, which quantifies the environmental impacts of V2G throughout the life cycle of the EVs and the grid. LCA can capture the emissions, energy use, resource consumption, and waste generation of V2G, as well as compare it with alternative scenarios, such as unidirectional charging or conventional vehicles. Another method is to use a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) approach, which incorporates qualitative and quantitative criteria, such as customer satisfaction, public acceptance, policy support, and social equity, to evaluate the trade-offs and preferences of V2G.

4 V2G case studies

Several studies have applied the LCA and MCA methods to assess the impacts of V2G for different EV fleet types and contexts. For example, a study by Wang et al. (2019) compared the environmental impacts of V2G and unidirectional charging for a taxi fleet in China, using a hybrid LCA model that integrated the vehicle, battery, charger, and grid subsystems. The study found that V2G reduced the emissions of CO2, SO2, NOx, and PM2.5 by 14%, 16%, 18%, and 19%, respectively, compared to unidirectional charging. However, V2G also increased the energy consumption and battery degradation by 9% and 17%, respectively. Another study by Al-Awami et al. (2017) evaluated the economic and technical impacts of V2G for a bus fleet in Qatar, using a MCA method that considered the revenue, battery degradation, grid stability, and renewable energy integration criteria. The study found that V2G was more beneficial than unidirectional charging under high renewable energy penetration and high electricity price scenarios.

5 V2G best practices

When conducting a V2G cost-benefit analysis for EV fleets, it is important to define the scope and objectives of the analysis, choose the appropriate methods and tools, collect reliable data on technical, economic, environmental, and social parameters of V2G, compare the results with alternative scenarios or baselines, and conduct sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. This will allow you to assess the relative benefits and costs of V2G, as well as identify the key drivers and barriers of V2G.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?