A new report examines the impact of electric vehicles (EV) on the grid and consumers, and details the barriers to widespread implementation.
The Electric Vehicles and the Grid report recommends a research roadmap to maximise the benefits of EV for end users and the grid to support the energy transition.
This opportunity assessment report is one of several outputs from the recently established Reliable Affordable Clean Energy (RACE) for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre, an industry-led collaborative research centre established in July 2020 with $350 million collaboration of Australian industry and researchers supported by the Federal Government.
The report was released by RACE along with its partners – Monash University, RMIT University, Curtin University, CSIRO, the University of New South Wales, and the University of Technology Sydney/Institute for Sustainable futures.
The team, led by Monash University’s Dr Roger Dargaville, developed a concrete research roadmap to ensure Australia is positioned at the forefront of EV grid integration research and implementation.
Program Leader for RACE for Networks, Professor Ariel Liebman, said she was excited to release the report.
“The potential for flexible, responsive charging systems for EV’s to help decarbonise Australia faster and cheaper by supporting integration of renewables is vast, however if that potential is unrealised, electricity costs will increase,” Professor Liebman said.
Many projections see EVs making up most light passenger vehicle sales in Australia by 2030.
However, the range of current uptake scenarios (from 0.5 million to 5 million) would have vastly different futures for mobility and the grid.
The report seeks to support a customer-centric EV transition by identifying barriers to vehicle-grid integration and removing them through a world-leading research program to be funded by the CRC.
The program aims to lower energy bills, lower network costs, support electricity system reliability, reduce emissions, and grow employment opportunities in the EV integration technology sector.
CEO of RACE, Jon Jutsen, said, “A key focus for RACE for 2030 is integrating EVs (and their batteries) with the electricity supply system and with homes.
“We will make a significant investment in this strategic challenge over the next two to three years.
“This report provides useful guidance on the research priorities for this program.”
The full report is available at www.racefor2030.com/publications.
