• Niall Riddell, CEO & Co-founder at Paua & co-host Chris Sass talk to Claire Briodo Johnson, COO of Fermata Energy about ‘What Challenges Face the Vehicle-to-Grid Technology’.
• Link in blog to full episode

V2G. The challenges and the potential

The Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology is facing challenges in terms of acronyms and definitions, but its overall concept revolves around the idea that electric vehicles have underutilised battery capacity that can be discharged to the grid or used to power homes.

V2G has potential financial opportunities, especially in states with high demand response rates like Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Colorado, and California. For example, in Rhode Island, a Nissan Leaf vehicle can make up to $8,000 in one summer by discharging to the grid. However, consumer readiness and legislative changes are important considerations for the successful implementation of V2G.

‍Fermata Energy - enabling owners to make money from their EVs‍

Vehicle owners may be hesitant to relinquish control of their cars for the purpose of generating revenue while parked.

However, Fermata Energy, a startup in the EV industry, aims to address this concern by allowing owners to make money when their vehicles are not in use. They have secured a partnership with Nissan, ensuring that their technology does not void vehicle warranties. The challenge lies in convincing other OEMs to adopt this approach. Additionally, the interconnection process with utilities for charging stations is currently time-consuming, but Fermata Energy believes that collaboration with utilities could make them part of the solution rather than the problem.

‍The Utility Industry and EV charging infrastructure

‍The utility industry has been slow to adopt electric vehicle charging infrastructure due to concerns about profitability and the challenge of integrating it into their existing models. However, there is potential for utilities to benefit from using electric vehicles as a cost-effective alternative to building new infrastructure.

There is a need for education and changes in incentive structures to encourage utilities to embrace this technology. In the future, it is expected that all chargers will be bi-directional, allowing vehicles to both charge from and discharge to the grid. Progressive utilities will seize this opportunity and utilise electric vehicles as an underutilised asset. While consumer adoption of electric vehicles is still relatively low, there are different use cases where electric vehicles can already provide value, such as for fleets and as backup power for residential consumers.

Overall, the future looks promising for the integration of electric vehicles into the utility industry, but there are still challenges to overcome.

‍The mobility sector and the subject of energy inequities‍

Claire is keen to highlight the challenges and opportunities in the mobility sector and how mobility can be a part of the climate tech solution.

There are substantial complexities in working with utilities but by emphasising the potential of electric vehicles in transforming the industry it is possible to make progress. The need for infrastructure improvements and the role of software in managing fleets of electric vehicles is another area that requires improvements, according to Claire. Alongside this, she cites the importance of data and incentive structures in driving the adoption of electric vehicles.

The issue of equity in the transition to renewable and distributed energy is an increasingly more pertinent area for consideration with Claire acknowledging the current inequities. Nevertheless, she is keen to the decreasing cost of electric vehicles and the potential for regulatory fixes.

Specific progress includes the infrastructure and tools that are being provided by organisations to lower-income communities. Collaboration with Enterprise Community Partners to create charging hubs for Lyft and Uber drivers in housing projects is one such example. There is a need for consolidation and common standards in the industry, and the emergence of new job titles related to fleet electrification in large corporations.

‍Advice for the next generation and a final word from Claire

For young professionals, Claire is keen to stress the importance of building a diverse network, understanding financial models, and setting boundaries. And with that, the future is one full of optimism for the the energy industry of tomorrow.

Listen to the full episode here on Insiders Guide to Energy