UK government launches funding competition for vehicle to grid technology

The UK government is to invest US$25.7 million (£20 million) in vehicle to grid projects as part of its Industrial Strategy to create a smarter energy system, while increasing the numbers of electric cars on UK roads.

The projects will investigate technology that allows plug-in electric vehicles to not only draw power from the grid when charging but return it to people’s homes or back to the grid.
There are already 100,000 electric cars and 11,000 charge points and as this number grows they become a resource for a smart electricity grid, bringing benefits for drivers and creating a more flexible and efficient energy system.

The funding will be awarded to three types of innovative vehicle to grid projects: feasibility studies; industrial research or experimental development; and demonstrator trials in the real-world environment.

The competition process will start in the next few weeks with the aim of winners being notified in December and projects starting in early 2018.