More Than a Silver Lining: Plug-In Electric Vehicles to Talk to Electric Companies via the Cloud

• Ford Motor Company will join seven global automakers for a first-ever test of technology that will allow plug-in vehicles to respond in concert to a request from energy providers to stop, then restart charging. The demonstration will take place Oct. 16 in Sacramento, California
• Software-based technology is expected to help manage the high demand on power grids at peak times, while still meeting driver needs
• Opt-in program will offer energy customers incentives to participate while helping the utilities prevent power grid overload

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 14, 2014 – Ford Motor Company will join seven global automakers this week for a first-ever test of technology that will allow utility companies to communicate with plug-in electric vehicles via the cloud, an advancement that would help manage energy use and improve the efficiency of the power grid.

The automakers are collaborating with the Electric Power Research Institute, leading utility companies and Sumitomo Electric to develop a two-way communication platform that would allow plug-in electric vehicles from all participating manufacturers ‑ with their varying technologies ‑ to work with power grids. The system will enable the utilities to send a message directly to the vehicle, asking it to stop charging temporarily as a way of helping a grid that is becoming overloaded. The opt-in program allows customers to refuse the request if desired.

The technology demonstration will take place on Oct. 16 in Sacramento, California, at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Customer Service Center.

“This first-ever test is a critical milestone as we move forward with our collective goal to advance electrification and boost the environmental benefits that come with that,” said Mike Tinskey, global director, Vehicle Electrification & Infrastructure for Ford. “Our intent is to add more capability to this technology so that it may be used broadly in the future.”

In a typical situation, a vehicle owner would plug the car in for charging and set a time for departure. If the system detects that pausing the charge would disrupt driver needs it would not stop charging. Otherwise, the charge would pause to help conserve power for the grid.

Utility companies will offer financial incentives to customers who make their plug-in electric vehicles available to the grid, similar to utilities offering customers discounts for allowing their home air conditioning to run intermittently during times of high demand. Customers who opt-in to the program can charge their cars at a location of their choice and have the ability to ignore the utility’s request to stop charging.

“This demonstration represents a major milestone that meets the needs of utilities and equipment manufacturers while simultaneously benefiting electric vehicle owners and electricity users,” said Dan Bowermaster, manager of Electric Power Research Institute’s Electric Transportation Program.

Utilities and regional transmission organizations participating in the software and hardware development and demonstration include DTE Energy Company, Duke Energy, PJM Interconnection LLC, CenterPoint Energy Inc., Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Southern Company, Northeast Utilities, Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric, Commonwealth Edison, TVA, Manitoba Hydro, Austin Energy, ConEdison and CPS Energy.

Global automotive manufacturers working alongside Ford include American Honda Motor Co., BMW Group, Chrysler Group, General Motors Co., Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc., Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc.

Sumitomo Electric is the platform IT developer for this demonstration.