Electric Nation has installed the first 100 chargers as part of its latest Vehicle to Grid (V2G) trial, to demonstrate how the technology can provide a solution to potential electricity network capacity issues as the numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) increase. 

More than 450 EV drivers have applied to join the new Electric Nation trial so far.

In partnership with CrowdCharge, Electric Nation is recruiting Nissan EV owners in areas of the Midlands, South West and South Wales to take part in the trial of V2G smart charging technology.

Currently, only Nissan EVs feature the required CHAdeMO charging technology. 

In light of the Government announcement to end sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, Electric Nation said its trial is more important as there will be a more rapid take-up of electric vehicles over the next ten years.

The trial is using the Wallbox Quasar, the smallest and lightest bidirectional charger for home use. By using a V2G charger, EVs can put energy back into the grid at peak times. This technology reduces the need for extra electricity generation or network reinforcement.

The V2G trial follows the first Electric Nation project from 2018/19 which at the time was the world’s largest EV smart charging trial. The trial captured data from more than two million hours of car charging, providing real life insight into people’s habits when charging their vehicles. 

The Electric Nation Vehicle to Grid trial is offering free installation of the V2G smart chargers worth £5,500 to Nissan EV drivers who live in the WPD regions.

It is the first V2G project to use multiple energy suppliers instead of just one. This means that the trial is a more realistic simulation of a future world in which many streets will have a number of EVs using V2G chargers operated by different energy suppliers.

During the one-year trial each supplier will use the V2G chargers to test their various energy services, such as using the EVs that are part of the Electric Nation trial to put power back into the electricity grid when required, and charging the EVs during periods of excess supply in the system.

All the suppliers will use CrowdCharge’s demand management charger platform, which provides optimised charging sessions to ensure that the customer’s vehicle will be charged at the cheapest rate whilst being ready when needed.

By plugging in at specified times and putting energy back into the grid, active participants of the Electric Nation Vehicle to Grid project are expected to earn a minimum reward up to the monetary value of £120, available over the one-year trial period from March 2021 to March 2022. 

For more information and to apply to join the project visit www.electricnation.org.uk.

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