Power requirements: car batteries as controllable storage 🎥
FUTURE Experts from the Swiss Study Forum for Mobile Drive Technology SSM discussed possible and feasible ways to achieve the ambitious net-zero target for 2050 and the sharp rise in future electricity demand.
More and more electric cars, often with huge drive powers and extreme ranges, are carrying large batteries. The cars often weigh two tons or more, which leads to high energy consumption. How the increasing demand for electricity is to be covered is still being assessed in very different ways.
For Remo Mucha from Helion Energy AG, an Amag subsidiary, however, the case is clear: the potential of photovoltaics is enormous, and there are enough areas in Switzerland where such systems can be installed. In addition, solar cells have become inexpensive and will become even cheaper in the future.
Intelligently compensate for deficiencies
If nuclear power plants no longer ensure constant electricity production, the surplus of photovoltaic electricity in summer and the shortage in winter must be balanced out intelligently. It would be possible to store the surplus energy from summer, for example, by producing hydrogen and synthetic gases (power to gas), which could be converted back into electricity in winter.
Vehicles help with Vehicle to Grid
As electric cars, like conventional models, do not drive for around 90 percent of the time and their batteries are much larger than is necessary for everyday use, they can be used to stabilize the grid in the future. With bidirectional charging V2G (Vehicle to Grid), the potential of the car battery can be better exploited. The battery is then available as a decentralized and controllable electricity storage unit.
Conditions and incentives for users
Bidirectional charging is particularly interesting in combination with a photovoltaic system. During the day, the battery is charged at the workplace with solar power, and in the evening the electrical energy can be drawn from the battery again.
Adrian Wachholz from ABB E-Mobility AG: "However, before bidirectional charging can be used efficiently, norms and standards must be harmonized across the industry. In addition, all electric car manufacturers should provide access to the batteries and, last but not least, attractive conditions and incentives for users are also necessary."
Megawatt charging is feasible
There is no question for Huber und Suhner that there will one day be enough electricity available for electromobility. Stefan Buri, President of High Power Charging, presented plug connections developed by his company that can be used to achieve charging capacities of up to several megawatts. This allows electrically powered heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks, buses, ships, construction machinery and even electric aircraft to be supplied with energy in a short space of time. An e-truck, for example, should be able to draw electricity for 100 kilometers in just three minutes.
