UK council teams up with Honda for vehicle-to-grid electric car charging

Honda has partnered with electric car charging software firm Moixa and Islington Council to launch a new vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging scheme in London.

Five bi-directional V2G chargers - built by Honda and engineering company EVTEC, and running Moixa’s GridShare software - are being installed outside Islington Town Hall.

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The system charges the council’s electric vehicles when the power on the local network is at its cheapest and cleanest, and discharges power from the car batteries when it is at its most expensive and carbon-intensive. When there is a car on each of the five chargers, there is enough power to cover the town hall’s entire base load (the minimum level of demand on its electrical supply system over 24 hours).

At present, 24 of the 481 vehicles on Islington Council’s fleet are fully electric. The council is aiming to be carbon-neutral by 2030 and is planning to electrify its entire fleet by then, including its 77 HGVs and 61 buses, all of which are diesel-powered. This is estimated to cost around £35 million, some of which will be offset by the sale of the old petrol and diesel vehicles.

Moixa’s GridShare system enables electric vehicle smart charging, which involves optimising charging patterns based on factors such as driver behaviour, cost of energy and weather forecasts. It can also enhance the resilience of local power networks to prevent overloading and blackouts.

Chris Wright, chief technology officer at Moixa, said: “The EV revolution will put millions of ‘batteries on wheels’ on our roads in the next decade.

“By using AI-driven charging technology, we can intelligently manage these fleets of batteries, securing lowest cost charging and highest impact carbon savings. Our project with Honda and Islington shows what is possible and provides a blueprint for all large organisations to follow.”

CLLR Rowena Champion, executive member for environment and transport at Islington Council, added: “We’re working to ensure our residents have clean air to breathe, while also saving money that can be spent on delivering essential services for the people of Islington.

“We’re working with industry leaders Honda and Moixa to electrify our fleet in the most effective way for our residents and acting as a pioneer for others to follow.”

Click here for our in-depth guide on electric car charging in the UK...