Use “EV storage battery” on a daily basis to save electricity bills February 28, 16:55
In Japan, the market for EVs (electric vehicles) has begun to expand little by little.
In fact, EVs are expected to be used not only as a vehicle, but also as a "storage battery".
There is already a movement to use it as an emergency power source at evacuation shelters in the event of a disaster, but in anticipation of full-scale spread, businesses that incorporate "EV storage batteries" into their daily lives are starting to move.
(Osaka Broadcasting Station Reporter Yukifumi Yoshida, Economic Department Reporter Saki Hayakawa, Tomokazu Kouki)
Soaring electricity bill
"My electricity bill has risen recently..."
I think many people have come to feel this way.
Against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the depreciation of the yen, the prices of essential goods such as energy and food continue to rise, and Japan is facing record price increases for the first time in 41 years.
Looking at the average cost of electricity, which is a familiar part of daily life, over the last year of the consumer price index, it has risen by 20% from the average of two years ago.
Although the government's measures to reduce this burden began with billing in February this year, the future is difficult to predict, such as requests from major electric power companies to raise the price plans contracted by many households.
Energy self-sufficiency reduces electricity bills?
Given this situation, companies are currently focusing on the business of using EVs as storage batteries.
What Panasonic has developed is a system that uses the electricity stored in EVs in combination with solar power generation at home.
Depending on the family, there may be many cases where "the private car is parked in the parking lot for most of the weekdays!"
The new system stores electricity in EVs parked in parking lots and uses it at home as needed, reducing the cost of electricity purchased from the power company.
The feature of "EV storage battery" is that the capacity is at least several times larger than that of domestic storage battery, depending on the type.
Electricity generated by solar power generation can be used for household appliances such as lighting and refrigerators.
The new system is said to reduce electricity bills by about 60% compared to homes without equipment by using it in conjunction with the storage battery installed in the house.
This may sound attractive as electricity bills are soaring, but it costs a lot to install the equipment.
Even excluding EVs and the solar panels required for power generation, it is said that charging stations that connect EVs to homes will cost about 4.5 million yen.
However, in the event of a power outage due to a disaster, etc., it can provide enough electricity for a family of four to live for four days, so the company that developed it can expect not only to save electricity bills, but also to use it as an emergency power supply. .
Shinichiro Nakajima, General Manager, Panasonic Electric Works Company
"Since the storage battery of an EV has a large capacity, we thought that it could be used for purposes other than driving, so we proceeded with the development. Electricity stored in an EV is not only a substitute for gasoline for automobiles, but also for household use. It can be a means of using electricity economically.Since it is a system that allows the generated electricity to be efficiently consumed at home, I think there will be a certain amount of demand.”
Used for elevators in condominiums
There is also a movement to utilize “EV storage batteries” in condominiums.
If there is a power outage due to a disaster, etc., the elevator will stop and it will be difficult to move around the apartment.
Therefore, Hitachi Building Systems has developed a system to send electricity from EV to elevators, and plans to start selling it for new condominiums from this year.
The EV is connected to a dedicated outdoor facility and power is sent to the building, and assuming that a power outage occurred in a six-story building in January this year, the elevator is operated only by the power of the EV. An experiment has been published.
When normal power is cut off, it switches to EV power, and the screen showing the destination floor is designed to display that it is operating with a storage battery system.
When one light car type EV is connected, the elevator speed will be about half the normal speed, but it can be operated for 10 hours, and the remaining battery power is said to be 46%.
In addition to operating the elevators, this system can also supply power to pumps for water supply and drainage in the building, air conditioning and lighting in common areas.
Currently, it is mainly expected to be used during power outages, but in the future, we would like to aim to use it as daily power.
Toshifumi Hirano, Deputy General Manager, Product and Service Planning Department, Hitachi Building Systems
"If you can charge an EV with solar power during the day and use the electricity to operate an elevator at night, it will directly affect costs, and the investment effect will be improved. It will also benefit residents who do not have EVs.We would like to proceed with development so that EVs can be used as power sources for building infrastructure.”
Commuting to work with an EV for “workplace charging”
There is also a movement to get local companies involved in the local production and local consumption of electricity.
Sumitomo Corporation, a major trading company, will launch a new company in April this year and is about to launch a new service that utilizes electricity charged in EVs in corporate factories and offices.
Some companies work in areas far from the city center, where many employees commute by car.
We are planning to lend EVs and charging facilities to these companies as a set, and convert commuting cars to EVs.
Have you ever seen cars lined up in a large parking lot?
If you switch the car to an EV and use it as a storage battery, you can store a large amount of electricity charged using solar power generation.
Therefore, in the new service, in addition to the EV, the power generation system will be rented as a set.
It is assumed that the generated electricity will be used not only in factories and offices, but also in their own homes after the employees return home.
By using self-sufficient electricity produced in-house, in addition to saving electricity bills, it will also be a welfare benefit for employees who rent EVs.
Akira Kitahara, General Manager, Mobility Business Division 2, Sumitomo Corporation
"It is said that the utilization rate of automobiles is 4% or 5%, which is significantly lower than that of ships and aircraft, but EVs can generate value in the time they are not in operation. Electricity can be recharged at work and consumed at work and at home.With the spread of such a mechanism, we can create a world in which EVs support the local production and consumption of electricity and the energy networks of each region. I would like to see
Expanding Possibilities with Spread of EVs
Compared to other countries, the spread of EVs in Japan has not progressed, so many people may have the image that Japan is still far away.
Considering the initial cost of introducing the equipment and the cost of completely changing the lifestyle assuming gasoline vehicles, it is unknown how far the introduction will proceed.
On the other hand, given the medium- to long-term direction of the shift to EVs and the issues of how Japan, which lacks natural resources, will be able to meet energy needs in the future toward decarbonization, it is necessary to make more efficient use of renewable energy. It is essential to create a system that uses electricity.
At that time, I feel that the use of "EV storage batteries" will be a powerful option.
Osaka Broadcasting Station Reporter
Yukifumi Yoshida Joined
the station in 2016
Covering manufacturers and the energy industry as an economics officer
Economics Department Reporter
Saki Hayakawa Joined
in 2009
In charge of the electrical industry
Reporter
Tomokazu Katsuki
Joined in 2007
Responsible for the business world and trading companies