V2VNY a workplace charging project

Companies are invited to take part in a trial of new, next-generation vehicle to grid (V2G) electric vehicle (EV) workplace charging technology which offers the opportunity to lower carbon emissions and reduce energy costs.

Trial participants will be provided with a free V2G EV charger which can be kept after the end of the project. V2G technology enables EVs to be charged at times when electricity costs are low, and then put energy back into the grid, or into a building or even another EV, when electricity costs are higher.

Businesses that are looking to demonstrate leadership in sustainability are invited to apply to take part in the V2VNY project, which aims to demonstrate, test and refine V2G technology, pushing the boundaries of charging technology and paving the way for its broader adoption.

This is one of the first V2G trials in the UK to use AC charging with the latest generation of EVs featuring ‘vehicle to load’ technology; most previous V2G trials used Nissan and Mitsubishi vehicles with CHAdeMO DC charging technology. Trial participants need at least two electric vehicles on their fleet which feature vehicle to load technology from the brands of Genesis, Hyundai, Kia or MG.

Businesses will be provided with a free 7kW AC bidirectional charger with two sockets and a software package to optimise the charging, worth in total over £5,750. Participants can keep the charger after the trial but will have to pay for the installation of the charger and for continued use of the software after the end of the trial.

Mike Potter, CEO of CrowdCharge and DriveElectric, says: “The UK has a huge and largely untapped battery storage capability in the form of over one million electric vehicles that spend most of their time parked up. Using this resource can help reduce the load on electricity networks at peak times, as well as lowering costs and carbon. This project will trial how the latest EVs can be used as mini power plants to benefit businesses, electricity operators and the country as a whole.”

Recruiting is already underway for the V2VNY trial which commences in September 2024 and which will run through to the end of March 2025. Most chargers are allocated but the last remaining few are available to forward-thinking companies that are keen to be part of this next-generation project and that apply quickly.

The V2VNY Phase 2 project, part of the V2X Innovation Programme, is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), delivered by Innovate-UK. The V2X Innovation Programme is part of the up to £65m Flexibility Innovation Programme, funded from the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

The project has significant potential for Vehicle to Vehicle charging, supporting fleets which need to prioritise energy to specific vehicles, and opening new business model opportunities for different user groups. Several business models and use cases will be trialled within the project to understand the value that can be unlocked from each.

The V2G charger

Hangar19 has been product testing an AC V2G charger which the company has designed and built for use in the trial. These are two socket chargers that can supply energy back into the grid, a building or other vehicles.

V2G charger installation

In most cases, trial participants will be required to pay for the installation costs of the charging point. These costs will be made clear in an estimate before signing up to the trial, which will contain full details of the works required and price for completion.

Charging optimisation software

The charger will be managed by CrowdCharge, the EV Energy AI platform, with patented optimisation tools unlocking maximum value from V2X services for clients. An existing energy tariff will be used, with GridBeyond’s aggregation engine providing access to wider flexibility markets.

The participants will be required to meet participation parameters to continue to keep their place on the trial as detailed below:

Participants are encouraged to plug in their fleet EVs whenever the vehicles are not being used, even if a charge isn’t required. The energy in the vehicles may be valuable at any time and so, by plugging in as much as possible, there is the best opportunity to unlock that value and maximise cost savings.

These participation parameters include, but are not limited to:

• From the installation date of the V2G charger, this charger should be the primary source of charging the fleet’s EVs throughout the trial period.
• Completion of a minimum of 10 charge cycles per month to keep a place on the trial and use of the V2G charger over the trial period.
• Use of the project mobile app to manage charging preferences.