EVs will be a widely adopted mainstream yet the timing, speed, and extent of the transition in Australia are still uncertain.
A report that considers the impact of EV uptake trends, the potential benefits and adverse impacts on the grid and electricity consumers has been released by Reliable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre (RACE for 2030 CRC) with its partners, Monash University, RMIT University, Curtin University, CSIRO, the University of New South Wales, and the University of Technology Sydney/Institute for Sustainable Futures.
And it recommends a research roadmap to maximise the benefits of EVs for end users and the grid to support the energy transition.
The team, led by Dr Roger Dargaville from Monash University, developed a concrete research roadmap to ensure Australia is positioned at the forefront of EV-grid integration research and implementation.
“I’m very excited to release this important report, the first from our ‘EVs and the grid’ research theme,” RACE for Networks program leader professor Ariel Liebman says.
“The potential for flexible, responsive charging systems for EVs to help decarbonise Australia faster and cheaper by supporting integration of renewables is vast, however if that potential is unrealised, electricity costs will increase. RACE for 2030 CRC will ensure the benefits are realised.”
Many projections see EVs making up most light passenger vehicle sales in Australia by 2030. However, the range of current uptake scenarios (from 0.5 million to five million) would have vastly different futures for mobility and the grid.
The RACE for 2030 CRC’s Electric Vehicles and the Grid report seeks to support a customer-centric EV transition by identifying barriers to vehicle-grid integration and removing them through a world leading research program to be funded by the CRC.
This program will result in lower energy bills, lower network costs, support electricity system reliability, reduce emissions, and grow employment opportunities in the EV integration technology sector.
“A key focus for RACE for 2030 is integrating EVs (and their batteries) with the electricity supply system and with homes,” RACE chief executive Jon Jutsen says.
“We will make a significant investment in this strategic challenge over the next two-three years.”
