SMART CHARGING ELECTRIC CARS
GridPoint’s smart charging software manages the flow of electricity to plug-in vehicles and charging stations, allowing utilities to balance real-time grid conditions with the needs of individual drivers.
During peak periods, the flow of energy can be delayed or slowed to shift the charging load off-peak – minimizing grid stress and ensuring service reliability. When wind or solar power is available, the charging rate can be increased to expand the use of renewable energy in the grid. Smart charging also allows electric cars to be employed in the cost-effective delivery of ancillary services.
Smart Charging Strategies
Sophisticated software algorithms aggregate charging vehicles into a single power resource that can be managed as controllable load, low-cost energy storage and as a source of distributed generation. Smart charging requests are transmitted over a variety of secure, two-way communication methods to implement the following strategies:
Load Shifting – Charging load can be moved out of peak periods by establishing time-based charging windows during which power flows to participating plug-in vehicles.
Load Shaping – By integrating a variety of real-time signals, utilities are able to dynamically dispatch charging load to achieve specific objectives or mitigate location-specific and system-wide grid stress.
Ancillary Services – In real-time, vehicle charging load can be adaptively increased or reduced to provide system regulation and spinning reserves.
Vehicle to Grid (V2G) – The two-way flow of power between the grid and electric cars can be managed, returning energy to the grid when needed.
Delivering Tangible Benefits Today & Tomorrow
The dynamic load management capabilities of smart charging create valuable opportunities for utilities. Benefits include:
Delayed Infrastructure Investment – Shifting the new charging load out of peak periods extends the life of existing distribution infrastructure and minimizes the need for investment.
Optimized Grid Performance – Targeted load shaping provides the flexibility to prioritize charging based on real-time grid conditions, location-specific grid stress or utility objectives. Energy economics are improved when dynamic charging dispatch is employed to deliver system regulation and spinning reserves.
Increased Use of Renewable Energy – The charging load of plug-in vehicles, essentially mobile batteries, can be dispatched to capitalize on the availability of wind and solar power.
Demonstrated Green Commitment – Smart charging programs allow utilities to become visible advocates of electric transportation and its benefits – including reducing the carbon emissions that cause global warming and improving the nation’s energy security by reducing our reliance on foreign oil.