IBM has signed an agreement with the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) to evaluate the potential impact of electric vehicles on the UK electricity grid. The project will also assess the infrastructure required to achieve a mass market for electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the UK.
IBM will lead the co-ordination of a consortium of companies, EDF Energy, E.ON and Imperial Consultants, in conducting the study. The UK government has already committed GBP300m to create the infrastructure for plug-in vehicles and has provided consumer incentives.
Supporting infrastructure has already begun rolling out in London, the North East and Milton Keynes. The Office for Low Emission Vehicle’s (OLEV) has said it will provide grants of up to GBP5,000 for consumers who buy ultra-low carbon cars.
The project will focus on a number of areas such as analysis of how growth in electric vehicle recharging could impact electricity distribution networks, and what steps energy companies could take to overcome any barriers to supplying demand.
It will also focus on identification of the smart infrastructure needed for mass market uptake of electric vehicles in the UK, planning for design changes which maintain distribution networks’ effective operation and management, and design concepts for the ‘intelligent architecture’ of interconnected data and systems needed to enable local networks of electric vehicle charging points linked to the distribution networks.
In addition, the project will focus on assessment of current issues and likely future developments involving regulatory, legislative and commercial matters related to the recharging infrastructure.
The IBM led research is one of three projects totaling GBP4.5m that have been launched as part of the ETI’s GBP11m Electrification of Light Vehicles program. The projects are intended to propose an overall system architecture for integrating plug-in vehicles considering: electricity networks, charging points, and payment systems and helping to ensure compatibility across the UK.
The three projects will provide electric vehicle analysis with more than 3,000 vehicles owned and driven by consumers. Over 11,000 charge points will be installed across areas in London and the South East, the Midlands and the North East.
Jon Bentley, energy and environment partner of IBM, said: “It is important we anticipate the likely requirements these developments will have for grid enhancement and the need for an intelligent architecture. We need to take action now to ensure lead times are put in place for open and interoperable architectures, while allowing time to monitor the positive impact on the electric vehicle market.
”Furthermore, we need to achieve these goals alongside related programs in smart grids and smart metering, the shift to a renewable generation and the development of smart homes which are already under-way and gaining momentum.”