GM to test electric Volts in real-world, smart-grid pilot

Working with its OnStar subsidiary, General Motors has announced plans to start real-world tests to see how intelligent energy management can make electric-vehicle (EV) charging as efficient as possible and keep EV drivers’ electric bills as low as possible.

GM says the smart-grid pilot will help pave the way for utilities to increase energy efficiency and offer lower charging costs to their customers.

The test involves having hundreds of employees at regional utility companies drive leased plug-in Chevrolet Volts as their everyday vehicles.

Across the US, a number of programs have started in which customers can allow their utilities to stop and start their home air-conditioning units as needed when electricity demand is high. The utility reduces stress on the grid during peak hours, while customers can benefit from lower energy bills.

According to GM, OnStar’s smart-grid solution builds on this concept, but to a much more advanced and sophisticated level.

Through the OnStar Advanced Telematics Operations Management System (ATOMS), utilities will be able to accurately monitor and manage the energy used by Chevy Volts being used in the pilot. The data should provide insights into where and when EVs are charged and help with demand response, which allows utilities to reduce peak demand by shifting EV charging to non-peak hours.

Through OnStar’s ATOMS infrastructure and partner solutions, utilities will be able to implement two smart-grid services:

• Data gathering – With customer permission, OnStar will provide utilities with overall charge level as well as charging history, by time and location, for the Volt pilot fleet, without the vehicles having to connect to a charging station. This is expected to help with forecasting demand, setting rates and determining the best location for charging infrastructure.
• Demand response – OnStar will allow utilities to actively manage EV charging for those who opt in to the service. The utility can then reduce peak loads by offering discounts or other incentives to encourage drivers to charge their EVs when overall electricity demand is lowest, typically in the early morning hours.

OnStar first demonstrated its EV data gathering and demand response capabilities this past February at the DistribuTECH conference in San Diego. Now available in select US markets, the Chevrolet Volt is expected to be available nationwide by the end of the year.