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NETWORK / 34 / JULY/AUGUST 2016 F or electric vehicles (EVs) to achieve their maximum poten- tial benefit for both the transport sector and the energy sector, closer collaboration between the two sectors is essential. So far, most of the learning around how EVs will affect DNOs has come from projects undertaken by DNOs themselves, but earlier this year automotive manufacturer Nissan launched a trial in the UK that could be of great benefit to DNOs. Nissan, one of the leading EV manu- facturers, has teamed up with Italian DSO Enel to conduct the UK's first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trial in the UK. The trial will install ELECTRIC VEHICLES A car park of storage u First ever vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trial in the UK u Nissan electric vehicles become mobile energy hubs supplying the grid u Trial comprises 100 V2G units u Nissan EV owners can sell stored energy in their vehicles back to the grid for a profit KEY POINTS Electric vehicles are being hailed as the mobile storage solution, but power needs to flow both ways 100 of Enel's bidirectional charging units at locations across the UK agreed with pri- vate and fleet owners of the Nissan Leaf and e-NV200 electric van. Nissan said it is under- taking the trial because the path forward can be seen, but "we need to make sure it happens as it should do." The technology benefits all parties involved. EV drivers have the opportunity to tap into an additional revenue stream by making their EV battery available to the grid; DNOs can call upon what will become several gigawatts of power, or storage capac- ity, to balance the system and cut down on costly network reinforcement; and Nissan improves the attractiveness of its commer- cial offering and carves itself a niche as mar- ket leader in the field. The trial is the second V2G project launched by the partnership a'er an agree- ment was signed in Paris in December 2015 during the 21st UN conference on climate change. In the first trial, which kicked off in Denmark in January this year, 44 V2G units will installed across the country. So why has the partnership chosen the UK for its biggest trial to date? Nissan's overseas programme director, Francisco Car- ranza, said at National Grid's Power Respon- Source: Nissan