By leveraging the full potential of electric vehicles as “batteries on wheels” in the period through 2040, Europe can reduce energy system costs by EUR 22 billion per year and cut the need for stationary battery storage by up to 92%, according to a report by research institutes Fraunhofer ISI and ISE for Transport & Environment (T&E).
However, while the benefits are huge, the potential is not yet fully captured, Transport & Environment (T&E) said.
There are important interoperability challenges as the current focus on either AC or DC – alternative or direct current – bidirectional charging by different manufacturers poses a significant barrier to widespread adoption.
According to T&E, ensuring interoperability between all EVs and chargers – by mandating bidirectional capability as a standard at the European Union level – is crucial for materializing the full potential of the technology.