A project to understand how plug-in electric vehicles charge at home in harmony with the electricity grid has been launched.

CarConnect, which will run for three and a half years, has been created as household plug-in cars are believed to have an impact on local electricity networks, according to EA Technology, one of the firms in charge of it.

Other companies which are also part of the project are Western Power Distribution (WPD), the distribution network operator and Drive Electric and Lucy Electric Gridkey.

They will develop and deliver an electricity network modelling tool that will enable WPD to identify which parts of its network are susceptible to plug-in-vehicle loads.

They will also develop a method for monitoring the effect of plug-in-vehicles on low voltage networks that will inform the modelling tool development.

CarConnect will work with 700 EV drivers in its trials.

Roger Hey, WPD’s Future Networks Manager: “Distributing all the energy required for plug-in-vehicles would significantly alter how our network operates. CarConnect will provide us with the tools to model, monitor and act to minimise the impact of growing plug-in-vehicle electricity demand on customers’ bills.”