Vehicle to Grid (V2G) by OnStar

[kristopher]

GM And OnStar Launch Program To Help Utilities Manage EVs On The Grid in News Departments > New & Noteworthy
by Renew Grid on Wednesday 20 July 2011

...Starting this quarter, hundreds of employees of regional utilities will drive leased Chevrolet Volts as their everyday vehicles and participate in the pilot. Through the OnStar Advanced Telematics Operations Management System (ATOMS), utilities will be able to monitor and manage the energy used by the vehicles. According to the companies, this data will give the utility insight into where and when EVs are charged and provide demand-response options.

Through OnStar's ATOMS infrastructure and partners' solutions, utilities will be able to implement two smart grid services.

First, with the customer’s permission, OnStar will provide the utility with the overall charge level, as well as charging history - by time and location - for the Volt pilot fleet, without the vehicles having to connect to a charging station. This will give the utility better insight for forecasting demand, setting rates and determining the best location for charging infrastructure, the companies explain.

Second, OnStar will allow the utility to actively manage EV charging for those who opt in to the service. The utility can then reduce peak loads by offering discounts or other incentives to encourage drivers to charge their EVs when overall electricity demand is lowest....

http://www.renewgridmag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.7061

[phantom power]

1. I don't totally get the second one.

How would it be different than a utility's "regular" peak/offpeak pricing model?

[NYC_SKP]

2. With a smart grid, EV car owners could opt in to a more sophisticated model...

...in which, for example, a far more detailed (and beneficial to the customer )pricing model would be created to encourage participation.

Under this scheme, the car would alternately draw energy and return energy to the grid, as needed, throughout the day, thus reducing the need to light up peaker plants (assuming enough EVs are online).

A give-take as needed scenario.