Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has been appointed by Western Power Distribution (WPD) to oversee the delivery of CarConnect, a project intended to help the power industry to understand how plug-in electric vehicles (PIVs) charge at home in sync with the electricity grid.

The project is funded by Network Innovation Allowance, hosted by distribution network operator (DNO) WPD, and delivered by EA Technology, Drive Electric and Lucy Electric Gridkey.

It will help eliminate the requirement to replace electricity substations and cables to customers’ homes and workplaces, significantly saving cost as well as preventing disruption to customers.

"CarConnect will provide us with the tools to model, monitor and act to minimise the impact of growing plug-in-vehicle electricity demand on customers’ bills."

To run for three and a half years, the project will develop and deliver an electricity network modelling tool that will enable WPD to identify which parts of itsr network are susceptible to plug-in-vehicle loads and to look for solutions to eliminate network reinforcement works.

It will develop a method for monitoring the impact of plug-in-vehicles on low-voltage networks.

The project will work with up to 700 EV drivers in its trials.

TRL ultra low emission vehicles head Denis Naberezhnykh said: "DNOs need to start considering how plug-in vehicles and charging infrastructure can be an active part of their network and be managed intelligently in order to minimise potential adverse impacts on the network.

"This project will enable them to develop tools for doing so and validate their effectiveness in the real world."

WPD future networks manager Roger Hey said: "Distributing all the energy required for plug-in-vehicles would significantly alter how our network operates.

"CarConnect will provide us with the tools to model, monitor and act to minimise the impact of growing plug-in-vehicle electricity demand on customers’ bills."