Kaluza and OVO Energy have announced a ‘Vehicle-to-Everything’ (V2X) trial.
The INFLEXION scheme is being led by Kaluza in collaboration with OVO Energy, Volkswagen Group UK, and EV smart charging tech business, Indra.
V2X technology allows EV drivers to power their home with their car, and also leverage their EV as a backup power source, as well as being able to sell any surplus energy back to the grid – which can help to significantly reduce energy bills.
The announcement follows OVO’s hugely successful domestic V2G trial – the largest of its kind in the world – which enabled drivers to earn around £420 a year by selling their EV’s energy back to the grid, with some earning up to £800.
The long-term ambition for INFLEXION is to enable millions more drivers to reap the benefits of this type of charging in the future, regardless of which EV they own, as well as making EVs an even more affordable and attractive option for customers, rewarding them for making a more sustainable choice.
Alex Thwaites, Head of Zero Carbon Living at OVO Energy, said:
OVO has been leading the way in supporting customers to transition to electric vehicles and bring them on the journey to zero carbon living through exciting new products and offerings. This is not just about driving renewable energy solutions forward, it’s about demonstrating how customers can actually reduce their energy bills by making the switch to an EV. With OVO’s V2G tariff trial we saw some EV drivers save up to £800 a year on their bills.
Scott Neuman, CEO at Kaluza, said:
V2X will have a transformative effect on decarbonising our energy system but only if we make it accessible and affordable for all. INFLEXION is a critical step to bring the energy and automotive industries together, and prove the power of smart technology to save both cost savings and carbon emissions for drivers. Kaluza is ideally positioned to lead this work with our advanced software and market-leading partners.
The V2X Flex project, part of the V2X Innovation Programme, is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), delivered by Innovate-UK. V2X is part of the up to £65m Flexibility Innovation Programme, funded from the £1 billion BEIS Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.
If successful, OVO and Kaluza will look to roll out the trial to OVO customers later in 2023. OVO customers can register their interest by visiting: ovoenergy.com/electric-cars/vehicle-to-grid-charger
