What Is Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)?

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is a technology that enables electric vehicles (EVs) to interact with the power grid in a bidirectional manner: EVs can not only draw power from the grid to charge their batteries but also return stored energy back to the grid. V2G systems can help balance electricity supply and demand, enhance grid stability, and support the integration of distributed renewable energy sources.

Benefits of Vehicle-to-Grid

Implementing vehicle-to-grid systems can provide several benefits:

• Grid stability: Provides ancillary services such as frequency regulation and voltage support
• Renewable integration: Helps in smoothing out the variability of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind
• Environmental impact: Reduces reliance on fossil fuel–based power plants by using stored energy

Developing Vehicle-to-Grid Systems with MATLAB and Simulink

You can enhance your vehicle-to-grid system development by using MATLAB^®, Simulink^®, and Simscape Electrical™ for modeling, simulation, and analysis.

Modeling and Simulation

You can design and simulate V2G infrastructure, including charging systems with different power requirements (such as AC charging, low-power DC charging, and high-power DC charging) and of varying scales. You can model the entire charging process, from the electric vehicle supply equipment to the vehicle’s battery management system.

System-Level Analysis

You can perform system-level analysis of power systems, as well as analysis of grid integration of charging stations, microgrids, and smart grids. This is crucial for integrating EV charging stations into the broader electrical grid. With Simscape Electrical, you can:

• Develop energy management systems that optimize the use of various power sources and manage the load on the grid.
• Design and test control algorithms to ensure efficient and reliable V2G operation.
• Precisely model and simulate energy flows and grid interactions and design robust control strategies to maintain stable and efficient grid performance.
• Use optimization techniques to effectively manage energy storage and supply for charging stations, thereby improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing grid stability.

Techno-Economic Analysis

With MATLAB, you can model and simulate the complex interactions between EVs and the power grid. Using Optimization Toolbox, you can optimize charging and discharging schedules to minimize costs and maximize efficiency. You can also integrate economic factors, such as electricity pricing and maintenance costs, into your analysis to get a comprehensive view of the V2G system’s feasibility and profitability.

Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation

You can use Simulink Real-Time™ and  Speedgoat target hardware to perform hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations, enabling real-time testing of V2G systems. These simulations enable you to validate control strategies and ensure system performance under diverse conditions. By using Simulink for HIL simulation, you can develop and validate advanced V2G charging and discharging technologies, testing their efficiency and readiness for real-world deployment.

To learn more about V2G simulation with MATLAB and Simulink, see power electronics simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, real-time simulation, and grid-forming inverter.