Electromobility: E-cars as a source of energy?!
Electric vehicles depend heavily on the power grid and consequently suffer from the effects of the energy crisis. But what if the e-car of the future could contribute to the power supply itself? A study shows how car batteries can become electricity storage units.
When it comes to electric mobility, the debate between supporters and critics is particularly heated. Electric cars are often described as the key to the mobility turnaround, but they are increasingly meeting with resistance because of their high energy requirements. Especially in the context of the energy crisis, doubts arise about the feasibility of transport electrification for more environmentally friendly mobility. But what if e-cars not only no longer burdened the power grid, but also helped with power fluctuations? A study by Leiden University and the US National Renewable Energy Lab is now investigating this possibility.
According to the researchers, electric cars could make a significant contribution to stabilising the power supply by temporarily storing energy in their batteries. This is particularly important in the case of renewable sources, as they generate context-dependent electricity in various measures, which is to be stored or distributed for later use. Should enough vehicle owners - as well as manufacturers - join in, energy-storing e-car batteries could meet the global demand for energy storage on their own as early as 2030. And even with an increase in storage demand, which could be around 3.4 to 19.2 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2050, they would generously meet it. Such a technology could provide up to 62 terawatt hours of capacity for the grid without car owners having to change their driving behaviour.
Specifically, batteries from e-vehicles could help the power system in two different ways. On the one hand, they could charge the battery only when enough electricity is generated - and at the same time, thanks to so-called "bidirectional charging", release electricity back to the grid when it is needed. On the other hand, batteries that have been discarded due to reduced capacity could also be put to good use. Even if they are no longer suitable for powering vehicles, they could be used to store energy.
However, how much energy can actually be temporarily stored in these two ways depends on how quickly the stock of electric cars grows. Compared to the 17 million e-cars on the road today, around 138 million battery-electric cars could ideally be on the roads, according to a forecast by the International Energy Agency (IEA). In a less optimistic scenario, on the other hand, only half of the necessary vehicles would be available and consequently require the participation of several car owners. While in the first case it would be sufficient for the success of the project that every fifth Stromer owner uses his battery as an energy storage device, in the second case 38 % of the drivers would have to participate.
Even with a moderate participation rate, the project has the potential to be a success - and to open new doors for the use of clean energies. But for this to be possible, certain technical requirements must be met. The foundations for bidirectional charging must be laid, including the necessary hardware and software to make charging and discharging work. A system should also be put in place to track energy availability and eventually compensate participants. Until then, the idea of using electric cars as an energy source in the future otherwise remains just a promising invention.