British Gas and Pod Point Launch Six-Month Trial Unveiling EV Charging and Flexible Grid Integration

Image Credit: Pod Point

Embarking on a groundbreaking initiative, one of the UK's leading electric vehicle (EV) charging network operators, Pod Point, has partnered with British Gas to inaugurate a six-month demand side response trial for more than 2,000 esteemed customers.

This strategic alliance, unveiled by Pod Point and British Gas, sets the stage for a pioneering 26-week pilot program to incentivize customers to shift their electricity consumption away from peak hours. 

By doing so, participants gain access to economical and environmentally friendly electricity for charging their EVs.

The trial commenced after February marks a significant milestone in Pod Point's foray into flexible grid services. As an enticing incentive, all engaged customers stand to receive up to £50 in bill credits from British Gas if they actively participate in each flexibility event throughout the trial duration.

A select group of participants will leverage their electric vehicles to contribute to grid balancing following a precedent-setting trial conducted by the Power Responsive Programme at the Electricity System Operator (ESO). 

This innovative program has paved the way for integrating up to 300MW of aggregated assets, encompassing EVs and other cutting-edge technologies. 

Consequently, EV drivers can reap rewards by deferring charging until after peak demand periods.

The ESO forecasts a promising future, projecting a potential of up to 6GW of demand-side response capacity from innovative charging systems in the transport sector alone by 2030. As the transition to sustainable mobility gains momentum, collaborations like this underscore the collective commitment to fostering a greener, more efficient energy landscape.

"The partnership with Centrica aligns with Pod Point's goal to continue driving innovation in EV charging," said Pilgrim Beart, vice president for the Grid Business Unit at Pod Point. "This trial forms part of our commitment to energy flexibility, and we believe it will showcase the immense potential of EV charging as a significant source of flexibility in the market.

"We also believe flexibility will play a pivotal role in supporting the widespread adoption of EVs and renewables in the longer term."

Findings from the trial are expected to enable British Gas and Pod Point to help customers make charging cheaper and greener. They are also expected to support the ESO in establishing new rules that open up the balancing mechanism to more EV charging services.

Stavros Sachinis, Centrica's demand-side response director, said EV uptake is a key part of the UK's drive towards net zero emissions.

"Our partnership with Pod Point supports this and represents a strategic step towards a more sustainable and flexible energy future," he said. "By optimising EV charging we're aiming to provide our customers with greater control over their energy usage and costs while also accelerating the journey towards a greener future.

"This is in addition to our recently launched market-leading SmartCharge service that charges EV's when energy is at its cheapest during that charging session offering customers the chance to access a cheap charging rate while also helping to manage demand on the grid."