Our partners from Virtual Vehicle recently published a paper titled “Simulation-based assessment of the grid impact of bi-directional charging”, as part of the 14th International Energy Economics Conference at the Vienna University of Technology.
It investigates the implications of integrating bidirectional electric vehicle (EV) charging—specifically Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) technologies—on future power distribution networks. Utilising the GridSim model and data from 1,206 low-voltage networks in Germany, the study simulates scenarios for the year 2040, considering a high penetration of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Three charging strategies are analysed: uncontrolled charging, price-optimised V2G, and a mixed approach combining V2G, V2H, and uncontrolled charging.
Findings indicate that while moderate adoption of bidirectional charging can initially reduce the need for grid expansion, a higher share leads to significant increases in grid load and losses. Specifically, the V2G scenario results in a 61% increase in grid losses by 2040 compared to direct charging, necessitating substantial grid infrastructure upgrades. Conversely, the mixed charging strategy exhibits only a 9% increase in grid losses, suggesting a more balanced approach.
Despite the increased grid demands, bidirectional charging offers environmental benefits. BEVs participating in V2G can reduce operational emissions by approximately 96 kg CO₂ equivalents per year, and by about 30 kg CO₂ equivalents in the mixed scenario. These reductions can offset the environmental impacts associated with additional infrastructure and grid losses.
The study underscores the importance of strategic implementation of bidirectional charging to maximise environmental benefits while mitigating grid impacts. It also highlights the need for further research into other environmental impact categories beyond greenhouse gas emissions to ensure a comprehensive assessment of bidirectional charging technologies.