I have a solar farm and V2G. My Leaf sometimes provides energy, earns enough to pay electricity and gas bills [Reader]

Mr. Tomek told us that he lives in the United Kingdom, has photovoltaic panels on his roof and that his energy supplier has installed V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) equipment for him. His electric car (Nissan Leaf) can be charged from the grid, but he can also return energy to him when necessary. In summer, he earns about PLN 560 per month for photovoltaics and a car battery, and PLN 320 per month in winter.

The following text is a story about V2G, edited and approved by our Reader. As a thank you, Mr. Tomas' referral -> https://ts.la/tomasz17352

V2G in a free test program

Table of contents

• V2G in a free test program
  • How V2G works
  • costs
  • Disadvantages and advantages

It sounds like an iron wolf: the energy supplier Ovo Energy installed all the equipment for it free of charge as the two-year V2G testing program continues. The photovoltaic plant and our reader's Nissan Leaf give (sell!) Energy to the grid, the car charges when there is excess (and cheaper) energy, and returns it when demand rises.

The energy supplier says it directly: by properly managing the discharge and charging times of the vehicle. You can efficiently charge your batteries for free.

Of course, work cycles are not free and contribute to the gradual degradation of cells. However, by skillfully managing the vehicle's vibration range (eg 30-70 percent), we can significantly slow down their wear. Our reader after a year of testing – V2G-enabled vehicle from September 3, 2020 – I did not notice much degradation of the battery... When he bought the Leaf, he had 26 kWh at his disposal, and almost reached that level on a recent recharge.

Second Nissan Leaf and our reader. Has it since September 3, 2020, supports V2G. The earlier one, blue, could not supply power to the grid.

The system software allows you to adjust the usable range from 25 to 90 percent. You can even charge the car under a traffic jam, up to 100 percent, but here you need to deliberately activate the mode Increase... Mr. Tomas used the default range of 30-90 and later raised the upper limit to 95 percent because he was replenishing his energy completely before leaving home.

How V2G works

Mr. Tomasz's photovoltaic plant produces energy for household needs. What is not used goes to the network. Likewise, with a car, when the charger decides to draw energy from the Leaf battery: some are used for domestic needs, the rest goes to the network.

In August 2021, our reader's statistics were as follows:

• car docking time: 599 hours 14 minutes,
• charging time: 90 hours 19 minutes,
• energy loaded into the car: 397,5 kWh,
• energy consumed from the car: 265,5 kWh.

The car at this time is normal, Mr. Tomas drives to work, it is 22,5 km one way. During the year, he traveled 11 kilometers by car, including to hold several meetings 😉

Mr. Tomasz with Robert Llewellyn from Fully Charged

costs

The set that was installed in our Reader once appeared in the Now You Know program. The installer of Mr. Tomasz gave a sum of 5 pounds, which is equivalent to about 27 zlotys.... The Ovo Energy website says the smart charger costs £ 5, which is the equivalent of £ 500. He got the equipment for freebecause he participated in the test program - and now found out that the charger already belongs to him.

It wasn’t like Nissan's advertising brochures where the cable is plugged into the car and it all starts from the spot. The newer Leaf II with a 37 (40) kWh battery, borrowed from the cabin for the test, worked fine. Our reader did not want Leaf I 267 (30) kWh, it was necessary to update the software, which was done by the energy supplier. The oldest, blue Leaf I 21 (24) kWh worked with a charger, but without energy export to the grid.

The 21st generation Nissan Leaf with a 24 (2) kWh battery did not want to work with the V2G at all. After a firmware update, it could be charged on hardware provided by Ovo, but it still didn't support V2020G. Mr Tomasz replaced it in 27 with a newer model with a 30 (XNUMX) kWh battery.

Disadvantages and advantages

According to him, the use of the V2G system is not associated with any inconvenience. You just need to remember to connect your car (Chademo port) and set the clock when you plan on commuting or traveling during unusual hours.

However, income is important: Mr. Tomasz's photovoltaic installation and car battery mean that in the summer months he earns the equivalent of about PLN 560 per month, and in the winter months about PLN 320 per month.... This amount is enough to cover your electricity and gas bills. But they, as he emphasizes, are characteristic of him, his installation and the contract that is binding on him.

His energy supplier assured him that although the experiment was coming to an end, the system will operate as before until 2023.. Its functioning can be extended, but this is not necessary - this remains to be seen.

Here are all the amounts broken down by month:

• Grid connection bonus ** on balance £ 75.00
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 27.49 Credit [luty 2020]
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 53.17 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 69.34 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 105.07 Credit
• THIS Interest Fee £ 0.33
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 70.23 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 80.02 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 65.43 Credit
• Export Credit for Grid Connections ** £ 110.39 credit [vehicle replacement, Leaf supporting V3G from 2 September]
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 72.84 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 72.59 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 65.63 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 65.59 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 75.07 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 104.53 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 122.30 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 140.37 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 125.72 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 167.26 Credit
• Export Credit to Connect Vehicles to Electricity ** £ 149.82 Credit

Note from the editors of www.elektrowoz.pl: in addition to the V2G theme, you should pay attention to the time of connecting the car to the charger. People think they still drive and still need a car, so charging an electrician will limit them, while Tomas's statistics show that, for example, in August, a car spent more than 80 percent of its time on cable. Standing. 

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