The partnership between Nissan and the University of Toronto will focus on research aimed at advancing bidirectional charging in EVs and enhancing grid resilience

Japanese-automaker Nissan has signed a multi-year research partnership with the University of Toronto (UofT) to accelerate research on vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) grid modernization technologies.

Several automakers — of which Nissan is one — have been selling electric vehicles equipped with bidirectional charging technology that can power homes, accessories and other EVs for years.

Despite the opportunities to leverage the technology, in Canada, adoption of V2G and V2X applications has been limited due to grid-level challenges that impede mass deployment.

Now, Nissan and UofT’s Electric Vehicle Research Centre (UTEV) and its Grid Modernization Centre (GMC), are looking to “accelerate vehicle- and grid-related research” to create smarter and more sustainable energy grids.

“Electric vehicles have the potential to not only decarbonize everyday transportation for drivers, but also to serve as a crucial part of smarter, greener, stronger electrical grids for the future,” says Atsushi Teraji, the general manager of Nissan’s EV System Laboratory in Japan, in press comments.

“Collaborative research with the University of Toronto in this crucial field will help us develop real-world applications for the power of EVs and V2X technology.”

Utility grids not ready

Both Nissan and UofT recognize the issues surrounding grid capacity to manage many users transferring energy at the same time. There is also the grid’s ability to maintain a stable flow of energy if several bidirectional charging sources are operating at all once.

Initially, the Nissan-UofT partnership will focus on secure, scalable vehicles-to-grid (V2G) systems that allow EVs to not only draw energy from the grid but also send electricity back to homes and utilities.

Teraji believes that EVs performing V2G is a crucial part of stronger and more efficient electrical grids because it mitigates grid load at peak times and helps utilities cope with increasing demand.

The partnership research will use edge computing (a form of data analytics and management framework) to explore how to set up smart charging and resilient energy management systems between EVs, homes and the grid.

“Some of the challenges to be overcome in order to maximize the potential of vehicle-to-grid technology include privacy, cybersecurity, and the complexity of both the energy management system and communication standards between the vehicle and the charger,” says Timothy Chan, associate vice-president and vice-provost of strategic initiatives at U of T, in an interview with Electric Autonomy.

 “Others relate to power distribution, grid stability and managing energy flow from numerous bidirectional charging sources simultaneously.”

Leveraging AI

UofT plans to rely on its research experience in EVs, edge computing and artificial intelligence.

AI, in particular, will be critical in helping with more widespread adoption of V2X in the future, says Nissan.

The university also hopes to bring utilities, governments and industry leaders to develop solutions to scale down grid upgrade costs.

“Together, the expertise of our researchers provides the multi-disciplinary know-how to create technology and innovations that will be scalable and industry-appropriate in the timeframe the climate crisis demands,” says Chan.