The race to integrate electric vehicles is charging ahead

• The “Australian Strategic Electric Vehicle Integration Project” is a deep dive investigation over 3 years on select early-stage use cases for the strategic integration of EVs within fleets, precincts, and regional contexts through partner led demonstrations in NSW, SA and WA.  
• An embedded research approach will create research plans for each case study to investigate various customer behaviour, business and operating models, options for managed charging, and interactions with a range of energy storage systems.  
• Results will inform key stakeholders of how EVs, when coupled with energy storage, can be effectively, efficiently, and equitably integrated into the energy system, built environment, and society.  

The RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre has launched the “The Australian Strategic Electric Vehicle Integration Project” (SEVI). This project will investigate ways to integrate electric vehicles with renewable energy generation and storage that have promise for scalability and replicability through on-the-ground demonstrations led by our partners in NSW, SA and WA. Incentives for EVs in Australia have a way to go before catching up to other developed economies, but we are starting to see the Government put the pedal to the metal. How EVs are integrated with our energy system will have long-lasting implications for Australia, and this calls for a strategic approach informed by cooperation between private industry, Government, and research sectors.  

The adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is growing rapidly worldwide, driven by aspirations of countries to decarbonise their transport sectors, and the growing affordability and extended range of EVs. As uptake of EVs accelerates, fundamental challenges are emerging that may slow the successful integration of EVs into our society. Like other Distributed Energy Resource (DER) solutions (such a demand flexibility, rooftop solar and battery storage), the integration of EVs into our homes, businesses, and electricity networks presents both a range of opportunities and challenges.  

“The Australian Strategic Electric Vehicle Integration Project” (SEVI) is a $3.4M project over 3 years that will investigate ways to integrate EVs with renewable energy generation and storage that have promise for scalability and replicability. Following an initial period of research co-design in 2023, on-the-ground demonstrations will be led by RACE for 2030 partners in NSW, SA and WA, who will provide matching in-kind support for the research.   

The research aims to apply learnings from earlier literature on EVs and identify specific lessons from partner led demonstrations so we can begin bridging the gaps in our understanding of how these revolutionary technologies will integrate with our energy system and wider society. By investigating on-the-ground demonstration projects that are likely to scale and replicate across Australia, the SEVI project aims to move research beyond the early adopters of EVs and begin uncovering the extent of the cost, impact and wider value that can be captured from the strategic integration of EVs.  

Results from this project will build understanding and confidence in the benefits of integrated EVs among consumers, industry, and policymakers. Knowledge sharing and communication of key findings will take place throughout the project and will inform wider practice through avenues including case study reports, digital media, and industry training modules.  

We would like to thank our RACE for 2030 industry partners who have joined us in this electrifying project: Ausgrid, Australian Power Institute, Endeavour Energy, Planet Ark Power, Plico Energy, Powertech Energy, NSW Government, SA Government, Selectronic, SA Power Networks, SwitchDin, Western Power and the Witchcliffe Ecovillage. Also, thank you to our research partners leading the project Curtin University and University of Technology Sydney, and to research partners from Griffith University, Monash University, RMIT University, and University of South Australia. 

For more information on the project, please contact: 

Name: Oliver Hill  

Email: oliver.hill@racefor2030.com.au 

Mobile: 0406 020 652