Kaluza & Ovo Energy tap Volvo for vehicle to everything tech
Image courtesy Kaluza
British energy supplier Ovo Energy and energy software business Kaluza are partnering with Volvo Cars to develop smart EV charging solutions, including one-way, bi-directional and vehicle to everything (V2X) technologies.
The development of bi-directional V2X (vehicle to everything) charging services with Volvo Cars will allow customers to charge up for less, reward drivers for exporting surplus energy back to their homes and help to balance the grid.
Specifically, Volvo Car drivers will be able to save money on their EV charging through Kaluza’s advanced algorithms that shift charging to the cheapest and most sustainable times – technology that has saved OVO Charge Anytime customers over £2.8 million ($3.5 million) this year, states the partners in a release.
The solutions are due to launch in 2024, alongside the Volvo EX90 all-electric SUV, which will be the first Volvo Cars vehicle capable of bi-directional charging.
Alex Thwaites, director of EV at OVO commented: “V2X is one of the most exciting developments coming out of the transition to electric vehicles. We know that the only way to achieve net zero is to create a smart energy system and flexibility will play a critical role in making that happen.
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“EVs can provide huge amounts of flexibility but to make that a reality we need innovative partnerships such as this to unlock that massive potential, where we can use stored energy in EVs to reduce pressure on the grid, mitigate millions of pounds of infrastructure upgrades and reward customers for doing their bit.”
According to the partners, as a result of OVO and Kaluza’s V2G programme launched in 2018, drivers saved an average of £420 ($525) a year on their household electricity costs, with some saving as much as £800 ($1000).
Stated Neel Gulhar, chief product officer at Kaluza: “Launching these kinds of managed charging services requires tight collaboration across retailers, OEMs and customers so we are thrilled to be orchestrating this new proposition with Volvo and OVO.
“Over the last four years, Kaluza has proven the considerable cost and carbon savings potential of one-way charging – value which is multiplied several times over through V2X.”
