Conventional View ❘ V2G Concept ❘ Q&A
GRID INTEGRATED VEHICLES (GIV)
Q: Does a GIV generate electricity?
A: No, a GIV is always a net load to the system over time. It has to charge a battery before it can deliver that same energy, minus conversion losses, back to the grid.
Q: Do vehicles contain enough power to be useful to the electric system?
A: Yes, the GIVs being produced in Delaware will have the ability to charge or discharge at a capacity of 19 kW. That is about the average power consumption of 12 U. S. homes.
Q: Are GIVs safe to connect to the grid?
A: Ultimately, electric utilities certify the connection of GIVs. Typically, a utility will ensure that
GIVs meet IEEE and/or UL safety standards for back-feeding electricity. These same requirements are used for distributed generation such as solar PV and small scale wind turbines.
Q: How do GIVs communicate with the electric system?
A: The University of Delaware's GIVs communicate over a hard-wired Internet connection incorporated into the charging station.
ELECTRIC POWER MARKETS
Q: How will GIVs participate in wholesale energy markets?
A: GIVs will be aggregated together as one electric power resource so that grid operators don’t have to interact with thousands of vehicles. A joint venture between UD and NRG Energy has set up an aggregator which monitors different energy markets and bids into those markets according to their aggregated vehicles’ available capacity and market price.
VEHICLE OWNERS
Q: If electric vehicles are range-limited already, why should I allow someone to discharge my battery?
A: GIVs will have a controller that allow the vehicle owner to limit the amount of battery discharge to ensure they can meet the range needed for their next driving event.
Q: How much can I expect to be paid for providing energy services each year?
A: The amount of revenue generated each year is dependent on the energy market and the amount of time a vehicle owner is available to provide V2G. The yearly gross revenue generated can be between $400 - $5,000.