V2V Technology Joins Forces with Microgrids: A Revolution in Energy Storage for New Energy Vehicles is Imminent!
On March 7, a significant test concerning the future of energy was successfully completed at the Zhelimu microgrid supercharging station in Hohhot City. The Inner Mongolia region of Special Electric Power and Nanjing Deruit Electric Power Research Institute collaborated to validate the “Centralized Vehicle-to-Vehicle” (V2V) charging and discharging technology. This achievement not only marks a major breakthrough in China’s new energy vehicle technology but also intricately weaves together vehicle-to-grid (V2G), microgrid construction, and advanced energy storage technologies to create a multi-dimensional and deep energy ecosystem.
V2V Technology: Building an Intelligent Energy Ecosystem for New Energy Vehicles
As new energy vehicles become more widespread, efficiently utilizing these “mobile energy storage devices” has emerged as a critical challenge for the industry. V2V technology, which allows vehicles to charge and discharge energy amongst themselves, provides an essential solution to this problem. During the testing, multiple new energy vehicles successfully exchanged power, showcasing their substantial capacity support and flexible energy allocation capabilities.
The core of V2V technology lies in its ability to facilitate energy sharing between vehicles. In emergencies, a fully charged vehicle can quickly provide charging support to another vehicle with low battery power, thus addressing temporary charging challenges. More importantly, this technology allows for charging during off-peak hours and discharging during peak hours, effectively balancing grid loads and improving energy efficiency. Test data indicated that among five participating models, the highest individual discharging power reached 36.4 kW, while three vehicles discharging simultaneously achieved a maximum power output of 68.59 kW. Within just 15 minutes, these vehicles discharged a total of 22.38 kWh, generating a revenue of 33.61 yuan for users. This data not only confirms the feasibility of V2V technology but also demonstrates its significant commercial potential.
The applications of V2V technology extend far beyond this test. As the prevalence and intelligence of new energy vehicles increase, energy sharing among vehicles will become more convenient and efficient. For instance, in highway service areas or urban parking lots, vehicles can automatically allocate and balance energy through V2V technology, significantly reducing users’ charging and time costs. Furthermore, V2V technology can integrate with smart grids and microgrids, optimizing energy utilization and configuration, thereby providing robust support for constructing a more intelligent and efficient energy ecosystem.
V2G + V2V: New Energy Vehicles as “Super Nodes” in the Energy Ecosystem
V2G technology, which enables two-way interaction between vehicles and the grid, serves as a crucial bridge for energy transfer. As an extension and complement to V2G, V2V technology further enriches the modes and scenarios of energy flow. Through V2V, new energy vehicles can provide power support when the grid is under stress and facilitate flexible energy allocation among vehicles. This two-way interaction enhances grid stability and flexibility while offering additional income streams for new energy vehicle users.
The close integration of V2V and V2G technologies during this test revealed a more intelligent and efficient vision for the energy internet. New energy vehicles are no longer just modes of transportation; they have become integral components of the grid. They can discharge energy during peak load times to provide power support to the grid and charge during low load times to store excess energy. This dual interaction not only helps balance grid loads and improve energy utilization but also offers substantial profits to new energy vehicle users.
Additionally, V2G technology can integrate with smart homes and smart buildings for optimized energy management. In a smart home system, a new energy vehicle can serve as a backup power source during outages, while in smart building systems, these vehicles can collaborate with on-site energy storage devices for energy storage and allocation. This cross-domain integration will further enhance energy efficiency and reduce user energy costs, contributing to a more intelligent and efficient energy ecosystem.
Enhancing Microgrid Stability and Reliability with V2V Technology
Microgrids, as essential components of distributed energy systems, possess characteristics such as autonomy, flexibility, and reliability. The close integration of V2V technology with microgrid development during this test significantly improved the self-sufficiency and emergency response capabilities of microgrids. At the Zhelimu microgrid supercharging station in Hohhot, new energy vehicles can provide power support to the microgrid during grid failures or emergencies through V2V technology. This rapid response and flexible allocation capability not only enhances the stability and reliability of microgrids but also ensures a safer and more reliable power supply for users.
In cases of natural disasters or emergencies, microgrids can utilize V2V technology for urgent energy scheduling and balancing, ensuring the stable operation of critical infrastructure and meeting the basic electricity needs of residents. V2V technology significantly enhances the efficiency and utilization of energy distribution within microgrids, and through intelligent management mechanisms, it enables new energy vehicles to charge during low demand periods and discharge during peak times. This innovative energy management strategy improves both the economic efficiency and environmental friendliness of microgrids and lays a foundation for exploring deep integration of smart transportation and clean energy in China’s power system.
Industry experts have noted that as microgrid technology continues to advance, the importance of V2V technology will become increasingly prominent, especially in remote areas or isolated grid environments such as islands. V2V technology will greatly promote energy sharing and flexible scheduling among new energy vehicles, effectively reducing dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating environmental pollution. Furthermore, this technology can seamlessly connect with renewable energy generation systems, facilitating sustainable energy development and efficient utilization, contributing to a greener and more efficient energy ecosystem.
This innovative technology will undoubtedly accelerate China’s energy structure transition towards cleaner and smarter solutions, leading a new wave of transformation in the energy sector.
V2V Technology and Energy Storage: Relieving Burdens and Increasing Efficiency for Charging Stations
Energy storage technology is a key component of the energy revolution, playing an important role in improving energy utilization efficiency and promoting energy transition. The practical exploration of V2V technology opens new pathways for the application of energy storage technologies. Through V2V, new energy vehicles can not only provide power support when the grid is under stress but also enable energy storage and allocation among vehicles. This flexible storage method enhances energy utilization efficiency and creates broader market opportunities for the commercial application of energy storage technologies.
Technical personnel from a charging and swapping enterprise shared, “At electric vehicle charging or swapping stations, V2V technology can facilitate energy sharing and allocation among vehicles, thereby reducing the load pressure and operational costs for charging stations.” Additionally, V2V technology can foster deeper integration between energy storage technologies and the new energy vehicle industry. Through technological innovation and industrial collaboration, both sectors will jointly promote the in-depth development of the energy revolution. For instance, during the R&D process of new energy vehicle battery technology, enhancing battery storage performance and cycle life can be prioritized; similarly, energy storage technology R&D can focus on improving the intelligence and system integration capabilities of storage devices. This cross-field cooperation and innovation not only enhance energy utilization efficiency and lower user energy costs but also inject new momentum into the industrial development of both new energy vehicles and energy storage technologies.
Successful Validation of V2V Technology: A Revolutionary Change for Energy Storage
The successful validation of V2V technology not only signifies another significant breakthrough in China’s new energy vehicle technology but also profoundly showcases the vast potential and promising prospects of vehicle-grid interaction, microgrid construction, and energy storage technologies. Through continuous technological innovation and deep industrial collaboration, these fields are working together to build a more intelligent, efficient, and clean energy ecosystem. Looking to the future, as the popularity of new energy vehicles increases and energy transitions deepen, V2V technology will further integrate with vehicle-grid interaction, microgrids, and energy storage technologies, forming a powerful cross-domain innovation force. This innovative force will greatly enhance energy utilization efficiency, accelerate the energy transition process, inject strong momentum into high-quality economic development, and open up new avenues for the energy storage industry, helping storage enterprises seize opportunities and achieve a new round of leapfrog development.
