Power2Drive Europe to discuss on regulatory changes for bi-directional charging

Power2Drive Europe Conference, the international exhibition for charging infrastructure and e-mobility, is set to discourse on the regulatory changes needed for bidirectional charging technology to commercialize in the European market. 

Part of The smarter E Europe, the continent's largest alliance of exhibitions for the energy industry, the Power2Drive exhibition and conference will be held at Messe München on June 18 and 19. The event is expected to witness the participation of leading market and technology experts, stakeholders and policymakers working in the field of e-mobility. 

In the coming years, e-mobility is set to play an increasingly important role in the energy transition. The evolution of the field is such that it is much more than just emission-free driving powered by clean energy. The current focus is on the batteries of electric vehicles, which can be used as temporary energy storage.

The bidirectional charging technology can take the burden off distribution grids while making them more flexible. The concept opens up three types of applications, namely vehicle-to-home (V2H), vehicle-to-building (V2B) solutions, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) solutions.

In V2H and V2B, the storage and consumption of the electricity takes place entirely in the user's system, meaning in a private household or a company, behind the meter. In V2G, on the other hand, the EV is part of the power system and can provide flexibility services to the distribution grid by storing electricity and feeding it back into the grid.

In near future, numerous residential and commercial users will be able to benefit from behind-the-meter solutions. As with stationary storage systems, temporary storage systems can be used to increase the self-consumption of self-generated electricity.

With all major vehicle manufacturers are already working on vehicles capable of bidirectional charging and some of the first models on the market, the organizers of the conference expect this area to undergo a dynamic development in the coming years.

However, the basic regulatory legal framework is still missing for the V2G solutions that are immediately useful for the grid to work. Markus Elsässer, the Founder and CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH, explains, "Bidirectional charging will be a decisive element of the energy transition. The technology has the potential of effectively taking the burden off distribution grids and making the more flexible".

"The double burden of grid charges, surcharges and levies on temporarily stored electricity in particular must be eliminated. In my opinion, it is vital that 'green' electricity retains its status when temporarily stored in e-car batteries", he adds.

This year's Power2Drive Europe Conference is expected to discuss on these critical aspects of regulatory changes for bi-directional charging, along with an emphasize on its societal and economic importance in the emerging ecosystem of clean energy.