Nissan has announced a new, multi-year partnership with the University of Toronto, Canada (U of T). The goal is to accelerate vehicle- and grid-related research and activity through a collaboration between Nissan and the U of T’s Electric Vehicle (UTEV) Research Centre and Grid Modernization Centre (GMC)
What existing/previous U of T research programs will feed into this new research?
A modernized electricity grid that can safely and securely manage the bidirectional flow of energy is essential to efforts to decarbonize. The University of Toronto has extensive research in electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, edge computing and artificial intelligence. U of T’s Grid Modernization Centre – which is part of U of T’s Climate Positive Energy interdisciplinary clean energy research initiative – is partnered with utilities, government, industry and other key players in the electricity grid ecosystem. We believe that U of T’s Electric Vehicle Research Centre is home to some of the best facilities on the planet for electric vehicle testing and some of the best EV researchers and trainees. And expertise in artificial intelligence and federated learning – which allows for data sharing while preserving privacy) – will be key to creating resilient, decentralized energy networks that rely on data-driven energy management.
To what extent is the direction of the work determined by U of T, or by Nissan?
Like all of our partnerships, this research partnership with Nissan is driven by and aligns with academic priorities. The University of Toronto has a strong tradition of partnering with the private sector, and does so within a framework defined by the university’s academic mission and its fundamental values.
Where does U of T add value to work in the V2G field, as opposed to it being kept in-house by an auto maker?
This research partnership aims to accelerate commercially viable solutions for electric vehicles to contribute simultaneously to both cleaner transportation and a more reliable grid. Our researchers provide the multidisciplinary expertise to address all aspects of this energy equation.
Where are the main obstacles for widespread adoption of V2G, and what do you see as the main technical challenges in V2G that this research will focus on?
To maximize the potential of vehicle-to-grid technology, a variety of challenges need to be overcome. One involves managing energy flow from numerous bidirectional charging sources simultaneously. Another involves complex communication standards between vehicles and chargers. Others relate to power distribution and grid stability, privacy, cybersecurity and the complexity of the energy management system. This research partnership aims to create technology and innovations that will be scalable and industry-appropriate in the timeframe the climate crisis demands.
Who will have patent ownership for any innovations that arise from this work?
Through this agreement, our researchers and students will access leading technology to develop, test and validate vehicle-to-grid solutions and, as with all our research agreements, the results will be published. The University of Toronto always reserves the right to continue to use any newly developed intellectual property for research and teaching purposes to help extend the impact of research results.
When might we see commercialization of the results?
This partnership with Nissan will produce breakthrough research with real-world impact in real time – which is essential given the urgency of the climate crisis.
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