In pursuit of achieving net-zero emissions, the US federal and state governments, alongside businesses, are escalating efforts to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Transportation electrification is taking place in conjunction with other transformations at the grid edge where buildings, industry, renewables, and storage come together, leading to projections of faster load growth in the US for the first time in over a decade. Understanding the role of EVs in this coordinated transition is essential. A shared vision for vehicle grid integration (VGI) could help stakeholders harness the value offered by EVs.
Such a vision is outlined in the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) ‘The Future of Vehicle Grid Integration: Harnessing the Flexibility of EV Charging’ document, recently released as part of its ‘EVGrid Assist: Accelerating the Transition’ initiative. The document, developed with extensive stakeholder input, is a comprehensive guide that outlines a strategy for integrating EVs into the electric grid. It offers direction for stakeholders as they develop products, identify opportunities for standardisation, and design new policies, rates, and services, among other activities.
VGI is much more than connecting vehicles to the grid for charging. Successful implementation of VGI seamlessly aligns the grid’s physical infrastructure and operational structure, regulatory frameworks, and market design with customer charging behaviours. DOE’s vision for VGI is structured around five key pillars: universal value, right-sized infrastructure, standards-supported innovation, customer-centred options, and secure coordination. These pillars are intended to ensure that EV integration not only supports grid resilience and reliability but also delivers equitable benefits to all stakeholders, including EV owners, utility ratepayers, and the broader community.
Achieving the vision laid out in the document will take place in stages. The evolution to widespread VGI will require iterative learning and the development of solutions that give utilities and regulators the confidence that EVs can be used as a grid resource without sacrificing customer transportation needs.
The full report can be accessed here.
