Expert perceptions of enhancing grid resilience with electric vehicles in the United States

Abstract

Electricity and transportation systems in industrialized countries are undergoing transformations that, if coordinated, could improve the resilience and environmental performance of energy systems. The electrification of transportation and the expansion of renewable electricity can be leveraged by the bidirectional smart charging of electric vehicles, called “vehicle-grid integration” (VGI). Studies to date have focused on simulations and pilot studies to estimate the technical potential of VGI. We survey members of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee using a Delphi approach to assess VGI’s market potential and challenges. Building on the tradition of managing real-time demand with energy efficiency and load control, we extend the concept to consider grid resilience services with VGI. The survey results are examined in tandem with a targeted review of the literature, current policies, and the ecosystem of stakeholders. We find that experts rate grid-to-vehicle integration as the most valuable mode, and they rate battery degradation and warranty issues as the most important integration challenges. Our expert respondents also noted the need to create markets for ancillary grid services in vertically integrated utility systems. Managing electricity and transportation as complementary systems could help to address the growing need for grid resilience and carbon mitigation.