The adoption of Vehicle-to-Anything (V2X) in South Africa will reduce the combined cost of embedded solar generation and driving

Abstract

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are essential to global decarbonisation roadmaps and are being increasingly adopted in many countries. However, significant techno-economic barriers remain before the adoption of BEVs becomes widespread in the Global South. Issues include higher costs, grid instability due to high electricity demand during peak periods, lack of recharging infrastructure and restrictive driving ranges relative to internal combustion engines. Vehicle-2-Grid (V2G) can play a critical part in load balancing (peak shaving) and reducing costs for BEV owners. In this study, the potential of V2G was explored in more detail, looking at the development of appropriate hardware and software for V2G, the techno-economic assessment of V2G from a user and system perspective, and policy measures to support uptake of electric vehicles. The study shows that households with V2G-enabled BEVs achieve cost parity with households with internal combustion engine vehicles. Systems which connect BEVs to V2G, and supportive V2G metering and tariff policies, would accelerate BEV adoption in emerging markets.

SIGNIFICANCE : • Small-scale embedded solar (SSES) is an expensive option for homeowners; the levelised cost of energy is double the cost of power from Eskom. • 2G is an attractive option for SSES owners if the vehicle is charged from SSES during the day. • The calculated annual worth of a BEV with SSES is equivalent to the base case of a fossil-fuel-based vehicle and grid-based energy. • Using an optimal charging strategy, BEVs can reduce grid-based electricity demand and travel costs. • Bidirectional metering, V2G and time-of-use tariffs will be essential for the migration to BEVs.