Bidirectional Charging EVs: V2X [V2G, V2H,V2L , V2V, V2B and V2F]

Bidirectional charging is becoming more common in electric vehicles, and buyers are increasingly looking for models that offer this capability. As the name implies, it means that an EV can not only take electricity and store it in its battery pack, but it can also provide electricity to power devices, appliances, and even power tools.

You can even make money if your EV has a specific kind of bidirectional charging functionality that allows the car to charge at night when electricity rates are low and then feed that power back into the grid during the day when electricity is more expensive if your local provider has implemented a smart grid in your area.

Bidirectional charging can also save you money since you can charge your EV’s battery during off-peak hours and then use that stored electricity instead of drawing from the grid when it’s more expensive.

There are several types of bidirectional charging, which are the same in principle but also different in terms of functionality and usefulness.

1. Vehicle-to-grid - V2G

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is where a small portion of the stored EV battery energy is exported to the electricity grid when needed, depending on the service arrangement. To participate in V2G programs, a bidirectional DC charger and a compatible EV is required. Of course, there are some financial incentives to do this and EV owners are given credits or reduced electricity costs. EVs with V2G can also enable the owner to participate in a virtual power plant (VPP) program to improve grid stability and supply power during peak demand periods.

2. Vehicle to Home - V2H

Vehicle-to-home (V2H) is similar to V2G, but the energy is used locally to power a home instead of being fed into the electricity grid. This enables the EV to function like a regular household battery system to help increase self-sufficiency, especially when combined with rooftop solar. However, the most apparent benefit of V2H is the ability to provide backup power during a blackout.

For V2H to operate, it requires a compatible bidirectional EV charger and additional equipment, including an energy meter (CT meter) installed at the main grid connection point. The CT meter monitors energy flow to and from the grid. When the system detects grid energy consumed by your home, it signals the bidirectional EV charger to discharge an equal amount, thus offsetting any power drawn from the grid. Likewise, when the system detects energy being exported from a rooftop solar array, it diverts this to charge the EV, which is very similar to how?smart EV chargers work. To enable backup power in the event of a blackout or emergency, the V2H system must be able to detect the grid outage and isolate it from the network using an automatic contactor (switch). This is known as islanding, and the bidirectional inverter essentially operates as an off-grid inverter using the EV battery. Grid isolation equipment is required to enable backup operation, much like hybrid inverters used in backup battery systems.

3. Vehicle to Load - V2L

Vehicle-to-load or V2L technology is much simpler as it does?not?require a bidirectional charger. This is also sometimes referred to as VTOL. Vehicles with V2L have a built-in bidirectional charger and standard AC power outlets, which can be used to plug in any regular household AC appliances. However, some vehicles use the EV charging port and a special V2L adapter to provide power via a lead. In an emergency, extension cords can be run from the vehicle into a home to power essential loads, including lighting, computers, fridges, and cooking appliances.

4. Vehicle to Vehicle - V2V

Vehicle to vehicle (V2V): Another form of V2L, this allows EV owners to provide power to an EV that's run out -- similar to giving a "jump" to a gas-powered automobile.

5. Vehicle to Building - V2B

V2B: Vehicle-to-building transfers power from parked EVs to the building’s power management system during peak load times or power outages while ensuring that the EVs will have sufficient charge at the end of the workday.?

6. Vehicle to Farm - V2F

V2F: Vehicle-to-farm encompasses V2H and V2L types of applications in a farm environment.?

#EVSE #EV #renewableenergy #renewables #evcharging #flexibility #grid #gridmodernization #gridmanagement #carbonfootprint #charger #fleetmanagement #vpp #fleetmanagement #derms #DR #Angad #Gupta #connectortype #type1 #type3 #dccharging #accharging #chargingmodes #mode1 #mode2 #mode3 #evmodes #ev_modes #vpp #dr #derms #OpenADR #openADR2 .0 #protocol #OCPP #smartgrid #gridmodernization #demandresponse #virtualpowerplants #vpp #DERS #distributedenergyresources #smartgrid #grid #thermostat #tstat #battery #EVcharger #microgrid #electrifications #utilities #FTM #BTM #duckcurve #duckcurvesolution #duckissue #digitaltwins #twins #virtualmodel #energy #V2G #v2x #V2V #V2B #V2L #bidrectionalcharging