The NRMA has announced a new partnership to research how EV batteries can be used as energy storage through bi-directional charging.
The partnership will see the NRMA, alongside the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures and iMove Cooperative Research Centre, research into bi-directional charging technology as new Vehicle-to-Grid / Vehicle-to-Everything (V2G / V2X) technology emerges.
The research will explore how electric vehicles can be harnessed as mobile energy storage to deliver value to Australian households as well as benefits to the grid.
Vivian Miles, Chief Strategy Officer at the NRMA, said bi-directional charging is a really exciting development that has the potential to save its members money.
“Rather than straining the system at a time when we are shifting to more fluctuating renewable energy, EVs could provide a solution to both the clean energy and clean transport transition by becoming a battery on wheels.”
EV chargers currently use unidirectional charging and only allow power to go one-way into the vehicle battery. Bi-directional charging effectively allows an electric vehicle to be used as a home battery, storing the energy until it is needed in the home or back into the grid at peak times.
Ian Christensen, Managing Director at iMove, said electrification of transport has finally gained strong traction in Australia, and this transition comes with many opportunities to reconfigure how to manage energy demand and supply, including supporting the ramp up in renewables.
“Widely adopted bi-directional charging will open up energy options for consumers and communities and support our transition to clean energy. We are thrilled to support NRMA as it leads the way in making this technology an everyday reality in Australia.”
Dr Scott Dwyer, Research Director at UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures, said bidirectional charging has the potential to empower consumers while making better use of resources and supporting greater amounts of renewables on the grid.
“This project will examine in detail how it’s already being done by a small number of people today, what lessons can be taken to the wider population, and how a member-owned organisation like the NRMA could play a key role in EVs being accepted as batteries on wheels.”
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