California-based electric vehicle charging technology developer Nuvve Holding Corp. said vehicle-to-grid connectivity could play an important role in supporting U.S. grid stability in 2025 and beyond. A white paper released by the company pointed out that the adoption of EV school buses promises to be a key driver of the bidirectional charging infrastructure market.
The report asserts that EV adoption is hampered more broadly by a lack of charging infrastructure, particularly in low-income areas and along inter-city routes. Nuvve calls for more charging stations in high-traffic locations, such as convenience stores, shopping malls and hotels.
In addition, the white paper said, “for commercial heavy-duty electric vehicles, the energy needs are even higher, and high-power charging is needed at depots, warehouses, logistics centers, ports, and alongside the [main] truck transit routes.”
One of the main points of the white paper is that EV reliance on an electric grid that increasingly depends on variable renewable energy is leading to a “tipping point.” High retail prices for electricity, increasing demand from all loads (e.g., electrification, manufacturing, EVs) and delays in solar interconnection are combining to create a crisis situation, according to the Nuvve white paper:
“For instance, more than 8 million EVs are forecasted to be on the road in California by 2030. If those 8 million EVs were to connect and charge all at once at 10kW, that’s 80GW, which is 53% more than the largest peak ever in the state.”
The report suggests that grid stability could be reinforced by EV charging technology that enables the batteries in the vehicles themselves to serve as a source of electricity during times of peak demand or in emergencies and to be recharged during times of peak output.
The electric school bus market provides an excellent opportunity to put this concept into action, the report said. U.S. government funding supporting EV school buses, such as those provided for in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, could result in fleets of vehicles that offer billions of dollars of stored energy value annually.
School bus operator First Student is deploying 110 new EV buses for the current school year. The company told pv magazine USA that school buses are excellent candidates for electrification because of the ranges and predictability of their regular operational routes. In addition, school bus fleets with bidirectional chargers provide a ready source of power for utilities when school is not in session.
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I recently asked Google’s A.I. this question:
Hypothetically can you design a car/EV that has liquid cooling for the main/solid state lithium metal battery, but where the coolant is dual-use (as a secondary liquid battery)?
A.I. Answer:
Designing a Dual-Purpose Coolant/Battery System
Concept: A vehicle equipped with a lithium-metal solid-state battery that is cooled by a secondary liquid battery. The secondary battery would serve both as a coolant and as a supplemental energy source.
Key Components and Functions:
Primary Battery: A solid-state lithium-metal battery, known for its high energy density and potential for longer range.
Secondary Battery: A liquid battery, such as a flow battery or a redox flow battery. This type of battery can store energy in tanks of liquid electrolytes.
Heat Exchanger: A device that transfers heat from the primary battery to the secondary battery.
Circulation System: A pump and piping network to circulate the liquid between the primary battery and the secondary battery.
Operation:
Cooling: When the primary battery is operating, it generates heat. This heat is transferred to the secondary battery through the heat exchanger. The secondary battery, acting as a coolant, absorbs the heat and maintains the primary battery’s operating temperature.
Supplemental Energy: In certain driving conditions, such as during acceleration or climbing hills, the secondary battery can be used to provide additional power to the primary battery. This can help to maintain performance and extend the range of the vehicle.
Benefits:
Improved Cooling Efficiency: The secondary battery’s ability to store heat can provide more efficient cooling for the primary battery, especially during high-performance driving or in hot weather.
Increased Range: By using the secondary battery as a supplemental energy source, the vehicle’s overall range can be extended.
Reduced Battery Weight: The dual-purpose nature of the secondary battery can potentially reduce the overall weight of the battery system.
Enhanced Safety: The liquid battery’s ability to absorb heat can help to prevent thermal runaway in the primary battery, a safety concern for lithium-metal batteries.
Challenges and Considerations:
Compatibility: Ensuring compatibility between the primary and secondary batteries, including their chemistries and operating temperatures.
Efficiency: Optimizing the heat transfer process to ensure that the secondary battery can effectively cool the primary battery without compromising its own performance.
Cost: The cost of developing and implementing such a system may be significant.
Conclusion:
While this concept presents intriguing possibilities, it requires further research and development to address the technical challenges and evaluate its practical feasibility. If successful, a dual-purpose coolant/battery system could offer significant advantages in terms of range, efficiency, and safety for electric vehicles.