Bidirectional charging: Tests continue until 2024
PROJECT V2X SUISSE Mobility-Carsharing is testing the potential of electric cars as energy storage until spring of next year. It is already apparent that the bidirectional charging technology works.
However, Switzerland still has a lot of work to do before the new technology can be widely used. In the future, it should be possible to compensate for fluctuations in the power grid with the help of electric cars. The Swiss pilot project V2X Suisse, led by Mobility, has now proven that this is technically possible. The project, which has been running since 2022, has demonstrated in tests that it meets the technical requirements of grid operator Swissgrid.
Fluctuation compensation
This means that the system platform is able to respond to a signal in less than two seconds to compensate for grid fluctuations. The idea behind this technology is simple. When cars are stationary, they become power banks that can be linked together to form energy storage units and smooth out power peaks.
The current Mobility fleet of 3,000 vehicles alone could theoretically supply 60 megawatts. Customers have now driven more than 400,000 kilometers in Mobility's 50 Honda e vehicles, which are used for car sharing at 40 locations. Because it took longer than hoped to set up the V2X infrastructure, those responsible have now decided to extend the project until the end of March 2024.
Improve framework conditions
Project manager Marco Piffaretti: "In general, the challenges in setting up charging infrastructure in Switzerland are still great. But carsharing companies in particular are dependent on uniform solutions when it comes to developing and operating charging infrastructures. Above all, it is a matter of examining the economic viability of the technology. Sharing energy must be simple and economical."
Background: The project has already shown in the initial phase that many distribution network operators are not really prepared for feeding electricity back into the grid from dual-use batteries. Among other things, solutions are needed for proof of origin of the electricity fed back into the grid.
