energy mix in terms of fossil-fuels for electricity production , ushering in an era of localised microgrids of electricity / energy independence with drastically reduced emission levels .
Consumers and many businesses stand to benefit greatly from advances in battery energy storage technologies , whether they are used to power mobile internet devices , vehicles or entire households .
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
Based on an expected doubling of lithium-ion battery capacity in the next decade , electricpowered vehicles ( EVs ) are expected to become cost competitive with petrol-engine vehicles by 2025 on a total cost of ownership basis [ Ref . 5 ].
Car manufacturers are investing heavily in developing both hybrid and pure electric models to help meet tightening emissions standards . Towns and cities want to impose restrictions on conventional cars to reduce pollution ; and in the long term , some European countries , including the UK and France , want to ban them altogether by 2040 .
In July 2017 , the UK Government announced that it would ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040 onwards in order to cut carbon emissions by 80 % by 2050 from the 1990 levels in tandem with phasing out remaining coalfired power plants by 2025 . According to expert estimates , the numbers of EVs could balloon to 20 million by 2040 from around 90,000 today , although some conventional cars will remain on the road . Thus , charging them all will require additional electricity from the UK power grid and would add around 5 % to the annual energy demand . This is where “ smart charging ” will be deployed .
Smart charging facilities / systems will allow EVs to draw power from the grid only when it is readily available , avoiding peak periods , while ensuring that they are fully charged when their owners need them . Electricity utility companies will offer different tariffs at different times of day ( timeof-use , ToU tariff ), so that it will be worthwhile financially to subscribe to smart charging , as it could be a useful tool for managing demand when EVs are parked for hours at a time , either at home or at the workplace .
Implications One major hurdle for EV adoption in many countries , including Malaysia in the medium / long-term , is the need to develop adequate infrastructure in the form of recharging stations . In this context , Governments , deep-pocketed car makers and electricity utilities should be primarily responsible for building EV charging infrastructure in order to facilitate electric and hybrid vehicle adoption . This can be realised through effective incentive-based regulations considering the impact of retail petrol fuel pricing on future adoption of EVs and carefully weighing the trade-offs .
Going a step further , the smart charging system can be further developed and configured to deliver electricity to the grid - Vehicle to Grid or V2G System - which is currently being tested at a few trial hubs in Europe and Asia ( Japan / Korea / China ). Basically , EVs are in effect , energy storage devices on wheels , and because they spend much of their time parked up not doing anything they can help smooth out the peaks and troughs in electricity demand . The V2G system uses software to regulate the charging level of multiple EVs parked at a smart charging facility . When the grid needs extra power , it can draw very small amounts from each individual EV . During off-peak periods , the grid can re-charge these vehicles again and these EV users will get paid for the electricity they provide . The V2G system technology has the potential to be embedded in the Smart Grid infrastructure , especially at the micro-grid distribution / consumer end .
SMART GRID
A Smart Grid is an infrastructure comprising electricity generation , delivery ( transmission & distribution ) and a consumer network which incorporates information and communications technology and automation technology to minimise environmental impacts , enhance markets , improve reliability and service , reduce costs and improve efficiency . It is in this context that the Smart Grid is considered disruptive . It empowers customers to engage directly with operators and stakeholders / asset owners in electricity markets leading to a more sustainable electricity supply industry and greener economy .
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