Renewable Watch article series: Grid Integration of EVs in India
In addition to the two article published a few months ago, a new article, authored by Sahana L, has been published on Renewable Watch online magazine in January 2022.
The latest article, titled “Information is Wealth: Implementation of communication protocols in the Indian EV ecosystem”, points out that standardized communication protocols are crucial for interoperability and the use of proprietary protocols would certainly create problems for electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) as well as the EV users. Therefore, to create awareness and encourage stakeholders to adopt communication protocols, the government of India could release guidelines and standards. The articles analyzes the status quo of applicable communication protocols in India.
As the number of EVs begins to grow, the management of the charging process will be an uphill task for the DISCOMs in the absence of communication protocols. Mandating OCPP 1.5 is one of the first steps towards harmonisation of communication protocols across the country.
The first article, co-authored by Dr. Indradip Mitra, titled “Two Good: Need for energy and transport sector coupling”, points out that India needs adequate EV charging infrastructure deployment and vehicle-grid integration, because this is an opportunity for stronger sector coupling between the energy and transport sub-sectors. The coupling can make e-mobility a central element in the necessary green transition of the economy. The articles continues on to enumerate the key challenges and opportunities faced by the coupling of the two sectors.
Across the globe, the energy and transport sectors are on the path to becoming sustainable by incorporating renewable energy-based fuels. EVs and their charging infrastructure, if used judiciously, can act as a great source of flexibility in the energy as well as transport systems. Both these sectors could complement each other through efficient sector coupling.
The second article, titled “Crucial Communication: Need for communication protocols for electric mobility ecosystem”, states out that effective and efficient information flow in the EV ecosystem is essential for secure, smooth and optimal operational activities. The article then surveys all existing EV-related communication protocols and the international practices on implementation of these protocols. It ends by recommending India, a country anticipating growing EV uptake, to use communication protocol to ensure interoperability between the key entities in the e-mobility ecosystem.
Many countries are apprehensive of mandating common communication protocols since many standards and protocols are in the development stage and not yet finalized. Yet it is necessary to achieve a minimum level of interoperability which would facilitate in providing a wider network of an EV charging network for the users and augment EV uptake.
Renewable Watch is one of the six magazines of India Infrastructure Publishing Private Limited and covers the entire spectrum of renewable energy – wind, solar, bioenergy, small hydro and other emerging technologies – and includes both grid-interactive and off-grid power solutions. The two articles are the first in a series of articles related to various aspects of grid integration of EVs in India. The next article of this series will delve deeper into the status quo on communication protocols applicable in India and the future outlook for India.
