Fleets have been invited to take part in a real-world test for V2G to explore potential economic benefits and market opportunities.

A consortium of partners led by Cisco has launched E-Flex, a co-innovation project using active electric vehicles (EVs) in real-world fleets to prove the value of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

E-Flex aims to demonstrate the role V2G can play in reducing the demand that mass adoption of EVs will put on energy networks, especially at peak times. It will also explore the potential economic benefits of V2G for commercial fleet owners, road users and policy makers.

To put the theory into practice, it is creating a real-world test environment for V2G, inviting fleet owners all over the UK to take part. With 200 electric vehicles being connected, participating fleets have the opportunity to:

• Test and improve EVs in a real-world environment, receiving a free 10kW bidirectional charger(s) and installation, with annual maintenance and 24/7 support included.
• Lower costs of running a zero-emissions fleet through energy savings and unlock new services and opportunities for customers.
• Become a greener brand and have a positive impact on the environment, monitoring savings through a fleet monitoring dashboard and application.

The successful completion of these trials aims to form the basis of a commercially viable strategy, which will deliver broader benefits such as:

• Greener cities with cleaner air with low-emissions vehicles becoming a more popular choice with road-users and transport fleets.
• More efficient energy use through releasing electricity back into the grid at peak usage times to manage strain placed on energy networks.
• Monetising electricity grids by managing consumption so EVs can “sell” energy back to the grid when it is in demand and “buy” it back when it is less expensive.

Cisco UK and Ireland’s head of innovation Maria Hernandez said: “The market opportunity for V2G is huge when you consider that the UK government has outlined that all new cars and vans should be effectively zero emission in little over 20 years’ time.

“E-Flex is about testing whether V2G provides a solution to the main challenge of making this a reality: developing an economically and environmentally viable business model for EVs.”

If you are a fleet owner and would like to sign up to this trial, please do so by May 31, 2019