E-Autos als Energiespeicher | alles wissen

Summary

Xaver Pfab's innovative bidirectional charging system near Munich is revolutionizing renewable energy management. His setup allows electricity from solar panels to charge an electric car, which can then power the house, demonstrating a two-way energy flow. Pfab, a former BMW developer, uses a 40 kWh car battery capable of supplying his home for four days. With car manufacturers and research centers exploring the potential of vehicle batteries as mobile energy storage, this technology could reduce reliance on large battery systems and gas-fired power plants, making electric vehicles a key component of Germany's energy transition.

Takeaways

• 🏠 Xaver Pfab's home near Munich demonstrates a novel approach to using renewable energy with solar panels and an electric car that can power the house.
• 🔌 Bidirectional charging (BDL) allows electricity to flow both from the solar system to the car and back from the car to the house when needed.
• 🚗 The electric car's battery acts as a storage device, capable of providing up to 4 days of electricity for the house, depending on consumption.
• 🔋 The wall box is crucial for converting direct current from the car battery to alternating current for household use or feeding back into the house's electrical system.
• 🛠️ Xaver Pfab, a former BMW developer, pioneered the concept of bidirectional charging and tested it in his home.
• 📊 His household's daily electricity use is around 10 kWh, while the car battery can store up to 40 kWh, showcasing the potential of electric vehicles as energy sources.
• 📱 An app manages the energy delivery and battery charge state, providing control over the system.
• 🚧 Concerns about the electric vehicle's range were addressed by finding a balance between daily needs and the building's power supply requirements.
• 🔍 Major car manufacturers are exploring the use of electric car batteries for energy storage, including BMW, VW, Audi, and several Asian companies.
• 🌐 A BMW project in collaboration with the Munich Research Center for Energy Economics indicates that vehicle batteries have potential as mobile energy storage for the future power grid.
• 🔄 The concept of using electric vehicles as temporary energy storage could reduce the need for large battery storage systems and gas-fired power plants.
• 🚀 The Munich research center is optimistic about the integration of bidirectional charging into the energy transition, with e-cars becoming mobile buffer storage for a nationwide energy supply.
• 🔬 Further investigation is needed on how batteries can withstand the long-term effects of two-way charging and the integration of wall boxes, solar systems, and power grid controls.
• 🚗🔋 The current capacity of electric vehicles in Germany is equivalent to all the pumped storage power plants combined, indicating a significant potential for future energy storage solutions.
• 🔮 Looking ahead to 2030 and 2040, the growth in electric vehicles could provide substantial energy storage for the electrical system of the future.
• 🔚 Xaver Pfab's pilot project has concluded, and the findings are being evaluated with the aim of bringing the system to market within two years.

Q & A

What is the innovative energy solution implemented by Xaver Pfab near Munich?

Xaver Pfab implemented a bidirectional charging system where the electric car's battery can be charged by solar panels and, when full, can also supply electricity back to the house.

What is bidirectional loading and how does it work?

Bidirectional loading, or BDL, is a process where electricity can flow in two directions. It involves charging an electric car from a solar system and then using the car's battery to supply power back to the house when needed.

What role does the 'wall box' play in the bidirectional charging system?

The wall box transforms the direct current from the car battery into alternating current, which can be used for various household appliances or fed back into the house's electrical system.

What was Xaver Pfab's professional background that led him to develop this system?

Xaver Pfab was a developer at BMW, where he worked on the concept of bidirectional charging, allowing him to test and implement the technology in his own home.

How much electricity does Xaver Pfab's household consume daily, and how does it compare to his car battery's storage capacity?

Xaver Pfab's household uses approximately 10 kWh of electricity per day, while his car battery can store 40 kWh, providing enough energy for four days of household electricity.

How is the energy management in Xaver Pfab's home controlled?

Energy management is controlled through an app that regulates the delivery quantity and the state of charge of the car battery.

What concerns did Xaver Pfab initially have about using his electric vehicle as a battery storage device?

Pfab was concerned about whether the electric vehicle would have a sufficient range for his daily needs if it was also used as a battery storage device for the house.

Which car manufacturers are currently exploring the use of electric car batteries for energy storage?

Manufacturers such as BMW, VW, Audi, and several Asian manufacturers are working on utilizing electric car batteries not just for driving but also for energy storage.

What was the conclusion of the 3-year BMW project with the Research Center for Energy Economics in Munich regarding vehicle batteries as mobile energy storage?

The project concluded that the use of vehicle batteries as mobile energy storage has potential for the future power grid, as vehicles are stationary more than 95% of the time.

How could electric vehicles contribute to the power grid in the future according to the Munich research center?

The research center is optimistic that electric vehicles could serve as mobile buffer storage for energy supply, charging during times of surplus and discharging when renewable energy sources are not producing enough power.

What are the current limitations or areas of development for bidirectional charging systems?

The long-term impact of two-way charging on battery life still needs further investigation, and the interaction between wall boxes, solar systems, and intelligent control of power grids is not yet fully mature.

What is the current status of Xaver Pfab's pilot project, and when does he expect the system to be market-ready?

Xaver Pfab's pilot project has been shut down after completing the test phase. The idea is expected to be ready for the market in about two years.