Technologies and Companies Work Together for a Cleaner, Smarter Energy Future
General Motors is bringing its OnStar-enabled Smart Grid solutions to one of the largest electric vehicle collaborations to take place within the industry.
We are geeked about smart grids.
Integrating renewable energy and electric vehicles is the future of vehicle charging.
In short, these different green technologies are working together to improve the efficiency of the energy infrastructure as a whole.
Now the industry is working together to make EVs a more viable choice for consumers and EV charging a less energy intensive drain on the electric grid.
Today we announced we’re partnering with seven other global automakers, 15 electric utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute to develop and implement a standardized smart grid integration platform.
For the first phase of the program, EPRI and the participating companies will be working to develop a standardized Demand Response solution.
Demand Response is when a utility sends a signal to an energy management company communicating the supply and demand needs to the electric grid. That company then communicates with designated PEVs in the area to manage their energy consumption in accordance with the grid’s needs.
“If such a service were ever to be implemented for consumers that opt-in to it, they could receive a financial benefit or other incentive for allowing their vehicle charging to be managed,” said Tim Nixon, Chief Technology Officer, Global Connected Consumer, GM. “This would also allow utilities to help reduce stress on the grid and costs to all utility customers.”
The goal of this program is to develop a cloud-based, central server that would receive grid requests from a utility and then translate and standardize that request. The role of the automotive manufacturers will be to develop and deploy technologies that are compatible with these smart grid communications.
GM currently has been working with companies like TimberRock Energy Solutions, Inc. to research, test and develop potential real-world solutions like Demand Response.
Connecting cars to the grid is just one way we’re connecting you to what’s important.
Want to learn more about vehicle-to-grid technology and what it means for EV drivers and everyday consumers? Check out the interview below with our global manager of renewable energy, Rob Threlkeld.
