- New research shows vehicle to grid enabled electric vehicles can reach cost parity with petrol cars in South Africa.
- Combining battery electric vehicles with embedded solar and smart charging can reduce household electricity and transport costs.
- Policy support for bidirectional metering tariffs and charging infrastructure is critical to unlock benefits
A new study from the University of Pretoria suggests that vehicle to grid technology could play a decisive role in making electric vehicles more affordable for South African households while easing pressure on the national power system.
The research by David R Walwyn from the Graduate School of Technology Management title ‘The adoption of Vehicle-to-Anything (V2X) in South Africa will reduce the combined cost of embedded solar generation and driving,’ examines how battery electric vehicles can be integrated with small scale embedded solar generation to reduce both driving and electricity costs. The findings are particularly relevant for emerging markets where high upfront costs grid instability and limited charging infrastructure continue to slow the adoption of electric vehicles.
Battery electric vehicles are widely seen as essential to global decarbonisation efforts. However in South Africa their uptake has been constrained by a combination of higher purchase prices concerns over driving range and the impact of charging on an already stressed electricity grid. According to the study vehicle to grid systems offer a practical solution by allowing electric vehicles to operate as mobile energy storage units that can supply electricity back to the home or grid during peak periods.
Using real time data from a South African household with small scale embedded solar the study compared five different household and vehicle scenarios. These included conventional petrol vehicles with grid supplied electricity as well as various combinations of electric vehicles solar generation and vehicle to grid capability.
The analysis shows that households using solar and a battery electric vehicle without vehicle to grid functionality remain more expensive than the traditional petrol and grid based option. However when vehicle to grid is added the cost gap narrows dramatically. In annual terms the vehicle to grid scenario almost achieves full cost parity with the conventional option.
The calculated annual worth of a household using a petrol vehicle and grid electricity was ZAR130 682. By comparison a household using a battery electric vehicle with vehicle to grid and solar recorded an annual worth of ZAR132 655. A battery electric vehicle charged solely from the grid was around five percent more expensive.
One of the key drivers behind this improvement is the ability to charge electric vehicles from solar generation during the day and discharge electricity back to the household during evening peak periods. This reduces reliance on expensive grid electricity while also lowering overall transport costs. The study also found that optimal charging strategies can significantly reduce peak demand on the grid which is a growing concern for utilities.
The research highlights that small scale embedded solar remains a relatively expensive option for homeowners with the levelised cost of energy roughly double that of Eskom supplied electricity. Vehicle to grid improves the economics of solar by increasing self consumption and providing additional value from existing assets.
Despite the promising results the study cautions that economic benefits alone are unlikely to drive widespread adoption of electric vehicles in South Africa. The relatively small cost differences between scenarios mean that policy and regulatory support will be essential.
Key enabling measures identified include the introduction of bidirectional metering time of use tariffs and clear technical standards for vehicle to grid systems. Without these frameworks households and businesses will struggle to monetise the flexibility that electric vehicles can provide.
The paper also points to the need for continued improvements in battery durability and further research into alternative battery materials to reduce long term costs. On the policy front the author calls on government to accelerate implementation of the Electric Vehicles White Paper including investment in charging infrastructure support for local manufacturing expansion of grid capacity and consumer incentives.
For the energy sector the findings reinforce the role of electric vehicles not just as a transport solution but as an integral part of the future distributed energy system. If supported by the right policies vehicle to grid could help South Africa balance its grid lower emissions and make clean mobility more accessible to households and businesses alike.
Link to the full paper HERE
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
