UL Solutions has introduced a certification program for vehicle-to-grid technologies, providing testing and certification for bidirectional EV charging equipment that can transfer energy between electric vehicles and the power grid.
The program supports certification to UL 1741 Supplement SC, a recently published supplement to UL 1741, the Standard for Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use With Distributed Energy Resources.
The requirements address bidirectional electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) used for grid-interactive charging.
V2G systems allow participating EVs to return stored energy to the grid when additional power is needed and recharge during lower-demand periods.
An Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) study found that about 90% of electric vehicles are parked at any given time under typical driving patterns, creating an opportunity for those vehicles to support the grid when demand is high.
UL Solutions also cited a recent E3 study on vehicle-grid integration, commissioned by General Motors, which estimated that V2G could provide five to 15 times more per-vehicle value than one-way managed charging in many markets.
Bidirectional EV supply equipment acts as the interface between the vehicle and the utility, helping monitor and manage power flow while supporting utility interconnection requirements.
Products certified to UL 1741 Supplement SC can operate with electric vehicles using onboard bidirectional inverters designed and tested in accordance with SAE J3072. This provides a certification pathway for systems in which the vehicle-side inverter and external charging equipment work together to support bidirectional power transfer.
UL Solutions also supports certification for grid interconnection and grid-support functions using UL 1741 multipiece distributed energy resource requirements together with UL 9741, the Standard for Electric Vehicle Power Export Equipment.
The certification program is intended to address the electrical performance, interconnection, and safety requirements associated with V2G deployment as utilities evaluate EV batteries as distributed energy resources.
Testing and certification services are available at UL Solutions laboratories in Fremont, California, and Northbrook, Illinois.
Filed Under: Charging, Technology News