Why V2G Technology Uptake Is Not Happening Quickly
Electric cars sitting idle in driveways and parking lots could help stabilize power networks by sending electricity back into the grid during peak consumption hours, yet this vehicle-to-grid concept hasn't moved beyond small tests across the United States. New research from North Carolina State University identifies why the technology with clear benefits for drivers and utilities alike remains mostly theoretical. The basic idea is pretty straightforward. Cars spend most of their time parked, and battery-powered vehicles essentially amount to energy storage on wheels that could discharge power when demand spikes or renewable sources go dark. Owners would earn money by letting their vehicles feed the network during afternoon and evening consumption peaks or after sunset when…