Cars could be powered for free with new electric vehicle-to-grid charger

(Posted on 19/04/18)

How to charge electric vehicles is one of the concerns listed by drivers considering a swap from petrol or diesel.

This could soon change after energy provider OVO has unveiled a range of products that together with its intelligent platform VCharge will form the components of a distributed, domestic energy system for the future. 

The range includes the world’s first widely available, domestic electric vehicle-to-grid charger, designed and manufactured in the UK. The charger will accelerate the global transition to electric vehicles and will enable drivers to sell surplus energy from their electric vehicle batteries back to the electricity grid – meaning they may never have to pay to be on the road again.

OVO CEO and founder Stephen Fitzpatrick said: “Renewable energy and electric vehicles are perfect partners for the 21st Century. Today we’re launching the world’s first widely available vehicle-to-grid charger, helping to solve one of the biggest challenges facing the energy sector. We’re enabling thousands of EV batteries to help balance the grid in times of peak demand, more renewable energy to come onto the system, and households to reduce their electricity bills.

“This is the first step in building the distributed energy system of the future. One that is truly customer centric and built around households and their connected energy storage devices.”

The OVO Vehicle-to-Grid Charger will give drivers the option to discharge and sell surplus electricity from their electric vehicle batteries back to the electricity grid, helping to supply energy at times of peak demand. VCharge will also optimise vehicle charging to take advantage of cheaper electricity when it’s available and when there are more renewables in the system.

In addition, OVO is launching a Smart Charger which, like the vehicle-to-grid charger, will enable electric vehicles to be charged during off-peak hours, easing pressure on the electricity grid as well as allowing drivers to take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity. 

OVO is also announcing its debut in the home battery market with a Home Energy Storage solution. The battery with a custom-built control and communications unit will manage energy and power use. It will enable everyone to store, use and sell back electricity, whether they produce it themselves.

Fitzpatrick added: “Our completely new approach to energy has been made possible by the convergence of emerging technologies, applying intelligence, and years of working with customers to redesign the entire energy system.”