Nissan LEAF to power Aussie homes

The potential for the Nissan LEAF to return electricity back into the power grid – something no other EV, including those from Tesla and Porsche, can do – is now being realised.

And the technology, which could allow EV owners to make money and become immune from power outages, will be demonstrated and tested in Canberra in one of the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trials.

The federal government-backed Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) today announced $2.4 million in funding for ActewAGL to demonstrate V2G services in Australia.

The Realising Electric Vehicle-to-Grid Services (REVS) project will involve 51 Nissan LEAFs deployed across the ACT to test and provide V2G services.

The EVs will be part of the ACT Government fleet and, when plugged in, will provide Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

FCAS is used by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to maintain the frequency on the electrical system and provide a fast injection or reduction of energy to maintain grid stability.

The project will be the first time that a fleet of vehicles using bi-directional chargers will supply FCAS to the NEM and thereby provide services that improve energy security and avoid blackouts.

It will also be the first time an EV fleet will be paid for providing electricity services, testing new revenue streams that could improve the total cost of ownership of EVs.

Fleets make up more than half of all new vehicle sales in Australia and the results of the trial will help inform future procurement choices of private and public sector fleet managers.

ActewAGL will work alongside a consortium of academic, government, transport and electricity system partners including the Australian National University (ANU), JET Charge, Evoenergy, SG Fleet, ACT Government and Nissan.

The 51 Nissan EVs will replace traditional combustion-engine vehicles currently used for work around the ACT. They will be used normally during business hours but will be plugged in when not on the road, making them available to provide grid services for about 70 per cent of the time.

Using data from the trial, ANU will lead the development of a roadmap for the commercialisation of V2G technology for all stakeholders.

Proponents of V2G technology say it could eventually allow owners of EVs, which are essentially batteries on wheels, to earn money from discharging energy back into the grid and reduce its reliance on coal, gas and hydro-electric power stations and more recently batteries.

This could not only help to improve grid security but, like some households with solar home batteries, circumvent power blackouts at a local level.

Critics point out negatives such as shorter EV lifespans due to extra battery cycling and the fact most EVs still need to be recharged at night, when power prices are highest.

Either way, ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the trial is an important first step in demonstrating how EVs can support the power grid.

“ARENA is focused on commercialising technologies than can aid the integration of EVs into the electricity system.

“Given its potential capability to provide similar services as household batteries, V2G has the opportunity to transform a vehicle into a revenue generating device for consumers, through access to energy and network service markets and also to provide power solutions for the grid.

“As EV uptake grows, this project will help to unlock a future where EVs are just as critical a piece of the electricity sector as the transport sector.”

“The REVS project will also include a major study of the economic, electrical and behavioural learnings of V2G arising from the trial.

“Using these outcomes, international learnings and new analysis, the ANU will produce a V2G roadmap for Australia highlighting the potential of V2G and possible steps to get there.”

ActewAGL’s Group Manager of Product and Strategic Energy Deployments, Todd Eagles said: “What’s unique about the REVS project is that we have valuable contributions from across the electricity and transport supply chains.

“It’s a powerful collective of stakeholders invested in supporting the uptake of renewables through vehicle-to-grid capabilities, which have an important role to play in ensuring the resilience and reliability of our energy system.”

“Owners of electric vehicles can also benefit from financial incentives as a result of their electric vehicles being able to facilitate the two-way flow of energy, thereby reducing their overall vehicle costs.

“By focussing on fleets in the first instance, which make up around half of all new cars purchased in Australia, we’ll demonstrate the ability to scale these capabilities for shared value across the energy system and for vehicle owners.”