The Mainz-based e-mobility startup LADE has developed an interactive visualization tool that illustrates the concrete contribution vehicle-to-grid (V2G) can make to CO2-free power generation. The V2G simulator is now available for free use at https://v2g.lade.de.
Dennis Schulmeyer, CEO LADE: “Using electric car batteries as storage can be an extremely important building block in achieving Germany’s climate targets. The technology can be implemented very, very easily and cheaply, has an enormous impact, and the storage facilities are available anyway. We really need to get a move on with the energy transition because of the impending climate crisis, and we can’t wait until hydrogen becomes efficient. We need to act now – and electric car batteries can play a crucial role in that!”
Real data from the Federal Network Agency
Vehicle-to-grid refers to the intermediate storage of electricity in the battery of an electric vehicle, which is fed back into the energy system as needed. Based on real data from the Federal Network Agency, the V2G simulator concretely illustrates what this could look like for Germany. For freely selectable time periods, it shows the total electricity consumption in Germany as well as the power generated by means of wind and solar energy. Various expansion targets for renewable energies and the number of e-cars can be set via controllers. In addition, two concrete scenarios are preset that can be viewed via the tool: the traffic light coalition’s targets for 2030 and the Agora Energy Transition scenario “Climate Neutral 2045”.
The LADE tool shows that if the German government is able to achieve its target of 15 million electric cars by 2030 and also continues to vigorously expand renewables, it is realistic to expect that in the further course of time around 95 percent of the electricity supply in this country will be covered by wind, solar and batteries from e-cars alone.
Dennis Schulmeyer: “Our simulator clearly shows that, as early as 2030, we can use the batteries of electric cars to store away virtually all the peaks that will result from the further expansion of renewable energies. In this way, electricity can be used on a time-delayed basis.”
The course must be set now
For the potential of V2G to be fully exploited, regulation and standardization as quickly as possible is of the utmost importance. This concerns, for example, mandatory and policy-supported bidirectional AC chargers in the vehicle and a remuneration system that is as simple as possible.
Dennis Schulmeyer: “The course must be set now so that we can actually make full use of vehicle-to-grid in five years at the latest. Technologically, this is possible without any problems, but there is a need for action in terms of organization and regulation. This is where politics, industry and science all have a role to play. Vehicle-to-grid gives us a huge opportunity that we must seize.”
AC charging infrastructure as a more sensible alternative
In the company’s view, V2G can only be implemented in a commercially viable way with AC or AC charging points. In order to exploit the full potential of the technology, vehicles must, if possible, always be connected to the grid via V2G-capable charging points when they are parked – in other words, more charging points are needed than vehicles. Since DC charging infrastructure is more complex and in many cases more expensive to build and operate, V2G can be implemented much more cheaply and resource-efficiently with AC technology.
LADE CEO Dennis Schulmeyer: “The vast majority of charging processes can be covered more economically and even more conveniently with AC charging than with DC charging points. If the DC charging infrastructure becomes established, V2G will be reserved mainly for homeowners. For all other market participants, V2G will become more complicated and less profitable.”
