Workplace electric vehicle charging trial offers fleets free charger

Fleets are being invited to take part in a trial of new, next-generation vehicle to grid (V2G) electric vehicle (EV) workplace charging technology.

V2G technology enables EVs to be charged at times when electricity costs are low, and then put energy back into the grid, or into a building or even another EV, when electricity costs are higher.

Trial participants will be provided with a free V2G EV charger which can be kept after the end of the project.

The V2VNY project is being led by Hangar 19, in partnership with EV leasing company DriveElectric and CrowdCharge, which helps to unlock value from the technology.

Mike Potter, CEO of CrowdCharge and DriveElectric, said: “The UK has a huge and largely untapped battery storage capability in the form of over one million electric vehicles that spend most of their time parked up.

“Using this resource can help reduce the load on electricity networks at peak times, as well as lowering costs and carbon.

“This project will trial how the latest EVs can be used as mini power plants to benefit businesses, electricity operators and the country as a whole.”

Other project partners include Grid Beyond, Oxfordshire County Council, Electric Corby and JLR. JLR will be providing prototype electric vehicles for use in the trial.

Trial participants need at least two electric vehicles on their fleet which feature vehicle to load technology from the brands of Genesis, Hyundai, Kia or MG.

Businesses will be provided with a free 7kW AC bidirectional charger with two sockets and a software package to optimise the charging, worth more than £5,750.

Participants can keep the charger after the trial but will have to pay for the installation of the charger and for continued use of the software after the end of the trial.

Recruiting is already underway for the V2VNY trial which commences in September 2024 and which will run through to the end of March 2025.

Most chargers are allocated but the last remaining few are available to companies that are keen to be part of this next-generation project and that apply quickly.

The V2VNY Phase 2 project, part of the V2X Innovation Programme, is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), delivered by Innovate-UK.

The V2X Innovation Programme is part of the up to £65m Flexibility Innovation Programme, funded from the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.