Vehicle-to-grid systems useful but would face challenges here, say experts

The possibility of electric vehicles (EVs) pumping energy back into Singapore's power grid opens new avenues for better energy management and sustainability, and was a topic of enthusiastic discussion by a panel of experts on Oct 24.

- Esther Loi

Vehicle-to-grid systems, which are being explored here, enable EV owners to sell energy to the grid.

This is useful to meet energy demand during peak hours, or when there are disruptions to the power supply.

For instance, 16 EVs successfully discharged their batteries to send power back into the grid six seconds after a storm shut down Victoria's largest power station in a recent trial in Australia, said Dr Dhivya Sampath Kumar, a researcher focused on smart grid management and grid security.

The assistant professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) was part of the Singapore International Energy Week panel discussion on electric mobility, moderated by senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe from The Straits Times.

Dr Sampath Kumar said EVS could "help" the power grid by undergoing charging during off-peak times and discharging electricity during peak timings.