Chrysler Finishing Vehicle-to-Grid Test in Detroit

Chrysler Group LLC is completing a two-year project with Detroit-based NextEnergy, a nonprofit accelerator of energy technologies, to assess the economics of using electric vehicle batteries to supplement the power grid. The partners will produce a final report later this year.

Researchers have been using four all-electric Chrysler minivans and NextEnergy's ability to simulate any electrical grid. They aim to determine how well EVs can be tapped by the grid to meet short spikes in peak demand. Doing so could reduce the utility industry's practice of maintaining offline "spinning reserves" of generator capacity that can be switched on instantly if needed.

Similarly, a mini-grid of EVs could be used to reduce demand on the grid by their owners' homes during peaks when energy costs are highest. The vehicles could then recharge from the grid at night when rates drop.

The Chrysler EVs are equipped with 24-kWh batteries modified to accept bi-directional charging.

The carmaker says preliminary results suggest that tapping energy from EV batteries (along with solar and wind sources) could be especially effective for independent system operators. ISOs buy, sell and distribute but don't directly produce electricity.

The project has been funded by $1 million from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and $400,000 from NextEnergy.