EV batteries get second life with new charging initiative
While electric vehicles (EVs) may seem like a simple ‘energy switch’ from internal combustion engines to electric, they may well be the unsung heroes in our energy future.
That’s because, with just a little bit of help, EV batteries can be used for transport, and to generate, store, and even distribute power, in a way that puts consumers at the heart of the transaction and reimagines the broader electricity network.
The EV revolution
There is no doubt that EVs are here to stay, with the Climate Change Commission stating that by 2035, they expect 100% of cars entering New Zealand, both new and new second-hand, to be electric. This would make EVs 38% of the country’s total light vehicle fleet.[1]
It’s a transition that’s occurring the world over, with governments introducing regulations and incentives to encourage sales, and car manufacturers and energy providers investing substantially in research and development into the sector.
EVs not just for transport
However, there are some in the energy sector, like Counties Energy, who are thinking about EVs in a bigger way.
To Counties Energy, electric vehicles are no longer just a means to get from A to B; their batteries are also effective energy storage systems, capable of powering our homes or sharing and trading surplus electricity back to the grid.
For example,
What’s more, batteries can help provide resilience against climate change impacts. As New Zealand’s weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, potentially resulting in generation crises and outages, batteries can be used to bolster and smooth supply.
While this capability is still reasonably new in New Zealand, there’s a huge opportunity in integrating our fleet of EVs and their batteries – currently around 75,000 – into the network, able to be utilised during peak load times or power outages.
How can it be done? One clever, award-winning example is Counties Energy’s Berm Battery.
Counties Energy’s Berm Battery
Making use of what we have, and being ready to adapt, is precisely what the innovative Berm Battery project is all about.
A New Zealand first, the system repurposes used batteries from EVs in a modular energy system for the storage and discharge of electricity – delivering fast/rapid charging in a mobile charging unit.
Two pilot units have been established in Mercer (Waikato), using 18 second-hand Nissan Leaf EV batteries, combined with BMS+Inverter technology, in order to take advantage of the batteries’ estimated 50-80% remaining capacity.
Counties Energy worked with Australian battery energy storage developer to help develop the system. By tapping into their ReVolve technology, the Berm Battery can store 240kWh of energy, which is around 10 times the typical storage capacity of a home battery storage unit.
The two units store energy from the network by trickle charging off-peak, which can then be discharged by customers wanting to charge their vehicles more rapidly at 180kW (up from 120kW). This technology allows charge point network owners to reduce their connection capacity requirements as, load may be constrained on the grid, thereby saving costs and reducing connection times. The battery system can also be used as a backup power supply during outages.
The system is modular and can be daisy-chained to increase its total storage capacity, or even to change its physical location if required. This flexibility means Counties Energy can monitor and adjust the system in response to customer needs.
Initiatives like the Berm Battery mean that once batteries have exhausted their useful life (estimated at 10-20 years) in a car, an EV battery can be repurposed for stationary energy storage – often for more than 10 years.
Counties Energy’s V2G (Vehicle to Grid)
Stationary energy storage through berm batteries is one approach, another is utilising the batteries in EVs through a bi-directional EV Charger called V2G or Vehicle to Grid. This allows the customer and/or Counties Energy to also discharge EVs back into the grid for resiliency and commercial gain.
Additionally, customers with solar PV systems can use this technology to turn their EV into a stationary battery. They battery can be charged while the sun shines, and discharged in the evenings and mornings (traditional peak periods) before sunrise to offset energy bills.
Counties Energy is currently conducting trials using a V2G system to understand the technology and its applications in the New Zealand environment.
Berm Battery and V2G form a part of an innovative DSO approach
The benefits of the Berm Battery and V2G initiatives can be fully realised once they are connected to a Distribution System Operator (DSO) service, a capability that Counties Energy is building. Being able to connect to DSO service such as a “Flexible Connection” or “Residential EV Flex” allows these technologies to be optimised for local communities and businesses. Additionally, the local optimisation the flexibility created by these assets can be used to participate in wider national markets such as the electricity spot and reserves markets.
Under a DSO model, assets like EV batteries, solar panels, hot water cylinders, and even air conditioning systems, can generate, store and then release electricity. Counties Energy’s role is like a conductor of an orchestra, coordinating these multi-directional energy flows in a network that is greener and more resilient to outages or peak load demands.
The DSO model allows for better use of smart meter insights, real-time network usage and generation data in this multi-directional energy system, enabling Counties Energy to better support a growing and increasingly digital population.
These projects would not be possible without the support from EECA who are co-funders of both projects, to help distribution businesses like Counties Energy trial innovative solutions.
Ready for a reimagined energy future
New Zealand has high levels of renewable electricity generation, so leveraging the potential of EV batteries will play an enormous part in helping the country meet its carbon emission commitments.
Being able to fully utilise EV batteries in projects like the Berm Battery and V2G will be a key factor in helping the country transition to a sustainable energy future. When the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow, batteries can provide a significant means of powering our country and enabling security and reliability of supply for all.
[1] https://www.eeca.govt.nz/insights/eeca-insights/plugging-into-the-future-how-new-zealand-is-electrifying-its-roads/