Bidirectional Charging Hubs in the Electric Vehicle Retail Landscape: Opportunities and Challenges for the U.K. Case

Abstract

In light of governmental policies phasing out petrol/diesel car sales, the vehicle retail sector is transforming to focus solely on electric vehicles (EVs). Given their available physical space and access to a high volume of EVs, future vehicle retailers are ideally positioned to operate as bidirectional charging hubs. This paper explores the challenges and opportunities this presents for EV retailers. Current EV battery technology is examined, including degradation mechanisms associated with grid-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-everything applications. Next, bidirectional chargers and relevant industry protocols are analyzed in detail. The U.K. energy market's ancillary services are also investigated, with a focus on the specific performance requirements of different market types. Leveraging publicly available datasets from six mainstream EV models, the suitability of various EV fleets for each market is assessed. Finally, recent V2G projects are analyzed, and the broader societal implications of bidirectional charging hubs are discussed.