The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has successfully demonstrated vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities using Ideal Power Converters’ (IPC’s) bi-directional Battery Converter, connected to the EV battery (via the SAE’s new J1772 Combo connector interface) and to a 480V AC power grid. Reporting the event on 16 October, IPC said the Battery Converter is based on its patented indirect power converter topology and its Universal Power Converter Platform, which is designed to be applicable to multiple markets with only embedded software modifications.
The NREL is currently installing an IPC 30kW 480V AC photovoltaic inverter built on the same Universal Power Converter hardware platform on a solar parking structure at its vehicle testing and integration facility.
The IPC Battery Converter weighs less than 45kg and can be wall-mounted indoors or out, and IPC will begin marketing it in 2013, following the requisite industry certifications. IPC says the Battery Converter will be competitive on price with conventional EV fast chargers, offering greater charging efficiency (96.5% efficiency is forecast), lower installation costs due to its lightweight design, and V2G capabilities.
