• Niall Riddell, CEO & Co-founder at Paua & co-host Chris Sass talk to John Glassmire, Global Project Manager at Hitachi about electric vehicles as the new distributed energy asset.
• Link in blog to full episode

Electric vehicles are becoming a new distributed energy asset. This means that EVs are not only vehicles for transportation but also serve as energy resources that can be connected to grids.

EV charging stations are being integrated into the grid edge, which is the interface between the energy system and the infrastructure for charging EVs.

This integration has implications for the present and future of the energy system. Hitachi, a global corporation, is involved in supporting the electrification of vehicles through their energy grid edge solutions technology portfolio. Their solutions include decentralised technologies like battery energy storage systems and solar photovoltaic, as well as smart automation and optimisation management. The goal is to make energy available at an affordable and sustainable cost for EV fleets and clusters of electric vehicles.

Grid edge solutions can help overcome obstacles and challenges related to energy availability, grid congestion, and limited power supply. They can also align EV charging with renewable energy generation and optimise the use of energy resources.

‍Global factors driving the growth of electric vehicles

‍The growth of electric vehicles is driven by various factors globally, including expanding supply chains. In North America, new policies like the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure act have expanded credits and funding for EVs and related technologies.

The NEV Infrastructure Program is also being rolled out at the state level to support electrification along highways. California has set standards and mandates for the sale of electric vehicles, and other states are following suit. While each state has its own approach to EV policy, the overall trend is towards incentivising and preparing for the growth of EVs in the US.

The major stakeholders in the grid are excited about the new energy that will start flowing through the grid. This is a change from the focus on reducing energy usage and promoting energy efficiency in the past. Everyone wants to see this happen and is working towards it. However, there will be challenges as this is new territory.

Hitachi is preparing the technology for this new energy flow and is focused on grid edge solutions. There is a question of who will operate the technology, whether it will be the utility or developers/fleet owners. Utilities are mobilising to address this opportunity.

In China, there has been a significant increase in the purchase of electric vehicles, but there are still roadblocks such as policy, technology, and human buying decisions. Charging infrastructure standards differ between China, Europe, and North America.

One solution to the problem of charging many vehicles at the same time is to ensure sufficient power supply and to schedule charging based on vehicle availability.

‍EV chargers as a distributed energy resource and Hitachi 'e-mesh'

‍EV chargers can be used as a distributed energy resource to manage power usage and reduce costs. By synchronising charging times, using on-site generation and battery storage, and implementing energy management solutions, grid constraints and peak power demands can be reduced.

These solutions also offer value stacking opportunities, such as de-risking utility outages and increasing reliability and resiliency. Automation and coordination of assets are crucial in managing this complex orchestration problem, and Hitachi offers a portfolio called e-mesh to optimise and coordinate the operation of these distributed energy resources.

The grid edge approach allows for the connection and control of various devices in the utility space. Decision making on asset operation can be driven by factors such as cost optimisation or grid safety. Optimising the use of renewables may indirectly affect cost for companies with ESG goals. There are also considerations for areas under natural threat, where optimising for hardening may be necessary.

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which involves using stationary and mobile batteries, is still in the early stages of adoption. While there are technical challenges, the technology has been demonstrated to work. The commercial rollout of V2G is still uncertain, but there is potential for growth in the next five to ten years.

Collaboration and cooperation among companies and stakeholders is essential in building an ecosystem that works well for all parties involved in the EV market. Hitachi, for example, aims to tie everything together and optimise the system, regardless of where the technology comes from. The global EV boom is a driving force in the development of this ecosystem.

‍Collaboration is key

‍The importance of collaboration in the industry and the need for a unified standard in charging systems has never been more prevalent. The development of megawatt charging for larger vehicles and the electrification of various industries is another big piece of the electrification puzzle. The potential challenges and solutions for charging infrastructure at airports is another area for development.

‍What gets John out of bed in the morning?!

John is excited about the growth and impact of electrification and renewable energy, with the goal being for to electrify everything and decarbonise all aspects of life. Electricity is seen as the lifeblood of modern lifestyles and efforts are being made to decarbonise and electrify it. The US is producing more energy from renewables than from coal, showing a significant transformation. The future looks bright for electric vehicles, as they offer a fundamentally different driving experience and are expected to dominate the market in the near future.