The project, which expects to recruit up to 200 participants, will demonstrate smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration solutions to manage electricity demand and enable increased renewable integration.
It also will assess the typical EV charging behaviours of local users and their willingness to participate in V2G integration activities based on factors such as financial incentives and availability of renewable energy.
Rate design should also be informed.
“We know customers want clean, affordable reliable energy for their homes and businesses, and we are finding innovative ways to meet that demand,” says Dave Landrigan, VP Commercial at Nova Scotia Power.
“Through our electric vehicle smart charging pilot we will test these technologies to learn how they can benefit all customers, creating clean, smarter options without changing a person’s driving habits.”
The pilot is being funded through Natural Resources Canada’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration programme, which is aimed to accelerate the uptake of zero emission vehicles through support for demonstrations of innovative EV charging and hydrogen refuelling technologies.
Canada’s government has provided over Ca$600 million to help make EVs more affordable and to support the establishment of a coast-to-coast network of fast chargers, natural gas refuelling stations along key freight corridors and hydrogen stations in metropolitan centres.
Hydro-Québec to advance EV ecosystem
In other EV news from Canada, Québec provincial utility Hydro-Québec has deepened its participation in the Propulsion Québec initiative.
Propulsion Québec is an industry cluster aimed at positioning Quebec as a global leader in developing smart and electric modes of ground transportation.
During the coming year Hydro-Québec will work closely with Propulsion Québec as a leading contributor to various studies and activities aimed at galvanising the electric and smart transport ecosystem.
“In Québec, we are fortunate to be able to make transportation electrification possible by easily replacing gas imported from outside with our clean energy,” says France Lampron, Director – Transportation Electrification at Hydro-Québec.
“To do this, we need to develop synergies between various stakeholders in the sustainability mobility sector.”
One of Hydro-Québec’s main objectives is to offer a reliable charging network across the province. In addition the company is exploring different avenues related to the electrification of vehicle fleets.