Researchers at one of Greater Manchester’s leading higher education institutes have developed a bi-directional charging system.
The project forms part of a Horizon Europe and UKRI-funded initiative focused on tourist areas of the British Isles.
Working in partnership with the Future Isle of Wight CIC, among other organisations, a team at the University of Salford have developed a state-of-the-art bi-directional EV charger. The technology is now in use at a hotel in Shanklin, and allows electricity to be both extracted from the grid and returned to nearby buildings when supply and demand allows.
‘Electric vehicles can be more than just transport. They can store clean energy, share it when needed and help homes and businesses save money. Our goal is to make that practical and accessible for everyone,’ said Professor Vahid Vahidinasab, Chair in Sustainability at Salford Business School, the University of Salford.
‘This collaboration shows how research can move from the lab to the real world,’ they continued. ‘By working with local communities and businesses, we’re proving that clean technology can deliver real benefits for people, organisations, and the environment.’
One of several undertakings within the DriVe2X project, the system relies on a smart charging algorithm developed in Salford. This is capable of calculating the best times for cars to charge and discharge based on fluctuating energy prices, real-time needs and driver preferences. The outcome is lower costs and emissions, with maximum reliance on renewable sources.
‘Partnering with Professor Vahidinasab of the University of Salford on the DriVe2X project has been transformative for our community,’ added Vincent Wedlock-Ward, MBE, Director and Founder of Future Isle of Wight CIC.
‘By trialling bi-directional EV charging in tourism accommodation as a key business sector, we are helping businesses cut energy costs during peak seasons, strengthening the Island’s energy resilience, and creating new opportunities for green jobs and skills development and also demonstrating how smart, sustainable innovation can be scaled to benefit local economies across the UK,’ he continued.
Image: Ronan Furuta / Unsplash
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