DriveElectric launches V2G charging service

At the Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle event (LCV2017), September 7th at Millbrook, DriveElectric signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Japanese manufacturer OKAYA & CO., LTD and NICHICON CORPORATION to sell and operate the company’s V2G charging in the UK. NICHICON CORPORATION is a leader in the Vehicle to Home (V2H) market in Japan.

The CrowdCharge demand management platform is being developed, and will be able to connect and manage large numbers of EV batteries using V2G chargers, to act as one large battery to support the grid. This will help to avoid the need for non-renewable sources of power to be used at times of peak energy demand. V2G could play a vital role in decentralisation and the greening of the UK electricity supply chain.

The first beta version of the CrowdCharge platform, developed in conjunction with the University of Reading, uses advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide optimised charging sessions for EV owners. In combination with the CrowdCharge app which will be developed in the future, the platform ensures customers get the energy they need, when they need it.

Mike Potter, Managing Director at DriveElectric says: “It is the first time people can do this from their own home in the UK, and by enabling customers to sell energy back to the grid, becoming fully fledged and active participants in the UK energy market, we’re providing a financial incentive to choose the sustainable option.”

This initiative is part of CrowdCharge and DriveElectric’s commitment to support the entire EV ecosystem, going beyond the acquisition of the car itself and delivering new services to the energy industry. There will be an increasing number of EVs on the roads across the UK in the future therefore V2g and smart charging (also known as v1g) technology is essential to ensure the grid can satisfy the demands made upon it for increased energy.

The CrowdCharge beta platform is being used for the Electric Nation project to provide smart charging to help manage demand from EVs on local electricity networks.

DriveElectric’s V2G service will be available for CHADEMO-equipped EVs such as the Nissan LEAF, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Kia Soul EV. The launch price will be in the region of £8,000. To be one of the first to benefit from this exciting and ground breaking new technology, EV owners can register interest at: www.drive-electric.co.uk/v2g

Find out more about V2G charging by watching our video: https://youtu.be/X1fpB5sCgM0

For more information visit www.drive-electric.co.uk