VW subsidiary Elli and Mitnetz-Strom test grid integration of electric vehicles

The increasing share of renewable energies will require suitable storage options in the future, as sun and wind do not provide energy uniformly. The integration of e-car batteries as flexible consumers offers great potential in this regard. Customers should be able to benefit from lower electricity prices. However, the shift of large parts of mobility to the electricity system increases the demand on distribution networks, so at the same time, care must be taken to avoid overloading local grids.

Electromobility and sustainable energy industry must converge

In the joint pilot project, optimized charging strategies are being tested taking into account both regional power generation from renewable energies and the available capacities in the distribution grid. E-vehicles from the Volkswagen Group are being used in the process.

Regionally generated wind and solar power, which would otherwise have to be shut down in higher voltage levels until grid expansion is completed, can be specifically used for charging electric cars. At the same time, software coordinates the planned charging processes between E-cars and grid operators. This prevents bottlenecks in the local grid and maximizes the use of existing grid capacity to enable a fast and customer-friendly integration of green electricity and electric vehicles even before the expansion is completed.

“Smart charging in our pilot application supports the energy transition in many dimensions. The use of local electricity from renewable energies is increased and the customer's mobility needs are ensured. In the end, customers benefit from lower electricity prices for charging their electric cars and reduce their individual CO2 footprint,” says Dr. Niklas Schirmer, Vice President Strategy of Volkswagen Group Charging GmbH.

"Electromobility offers the potential in the long term to relieve our power grid where it is particularly necessary: in higher voltage levels with a temporary surplus of renewable energies. At the same time, we are addressing possible bottlenecks in the local network with newly developed software for the optimal allocation of network capacities to the charging processes of electric vehicles. This way, we can ensure that already in the transition period, until the networks are expanded accordingly at all levels, the technologies so crucial for the climate transition – wind and photovoltaics as well as electromobility – can be quickly integrated into the energy system," adds Dr. Michael Lehmann, Head of Process and System Management at Mitnetz-Strom.