Swiss Post has initiated a four-month pilot project to determine whether the batteries of their light electric delivery vehicles, such as e-bikes and moped scooters, can be utilized to stabilize the local grid and provide an additional revenue stream.
Project Details
The Swiss vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging project employs bidirectional charging, allowing postal service fleets to charge when renewable energy input is high and feed energy back into the grid when demand is high. The project is a collaboration between Kyburz Switzerland AG, Swiss Post, and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), Institute of Electrical Engineering, with financial support from the Federal Office of Energy’s (SFOE) pilot and demonstration program (P+D).
A key innovation in this project is the use of an alternating current (AC) charging process, converted into direct current (DC) using on-board devices in the vehicles. According to Severin Nowak from HSLU, “As soon as the scooters arrive at the depot in the early afternoon, we calculate the charging and discharging profiles in accordance with the Groupe-e variable tariff to maximize the vehicles’ support for the electricity grid.” The potential for additional income is significant for organizations operating numerous electric vehicles, as their fleets are more easily coordinated and follow regular schedules.
Challenges and Opportunities
The regulations for dynamic charging with electric vehicles to support grids are still evolving across Europe. Grid operators need to offer financial incentives in the form of dynamic tariffs for electric vehicle operators to utilize their vehicle batteries as energy storage devices. In Switzerland, dynamic tariffs are not yet widely available, which is why feeding back into the system is not economically viable everywhere. However, in the Groupe-e network area where the project is being conducted, variable tariffs are already established.
The pilot project aims to determine whether the economies of scale from the large number of scooters would be sufficient for Swiss Post to generate revenue through arbitrage. The project will focus on the technical feasibility of bidirectional charging with AC and assess how much support can be given to the grid and the monetary benefits that can be gained by fleet operators.
Related Developments
Berlin-based company Swobbee is already using its battery swapping stations with smart charging for light electric vehicles in delivery and logistics operations. While Swobbee currently only uses smart charging, the company plans to implement V2G technology in the future, allowing batteries in their swapping stations to form a larger virtual power plant. This approach has advantages, including eliminating the need for individual vehicles to be equipped with bidirectional charging capabilities and enabling constant monitoring of battery lifecycle.
Swiss Post is already committed to decarbonizing its transport fleets, with postal operations in Zurich and Bern already operating entirely electric and fossil fuel-free.
