NREL engineers test and analyze electrical vehicle charging and discharging to the electric grid, known as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). Testing is conducted at NREL's Distributed Energy Resources Test Facility, where researchers connect, instrument, and test V2G platforms. NREL provides calibrated, high-resolution data acquisition, grid simulation, and 240 volt alternating current residential transformer connect-ability for real world analysis.
NREL is currently working with Xcel Energy, a utility provider, to test efficient vehicles in a simulated grid environment. Activities include:
- Testing electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles
- Developing standard V2G test protocols.