Zero Emissions Driving
For Electric Vehicles
Zero emissions driving of Electric Vehicles (EVs)
requires renewable energy for charging via one
of the following options:
Each option must deal with issues such as EV charging
time and location relating to renewable energy production,
cost and convenience.
• On-site renewable energy generation
This means charging should be undertaken using outlets
which are known to use renewable energy. In instances
where this isn’t possible or certain, charging should
be monitored and accounted for as part of the overall
renewable energy strategy.
• GreenPower or Renewable Energy Certificate
(REC) purchase
• Charging service agreements
To learn more about measuring and managing your
EV charging, refer to the supporting information below.
Renewable
electricity
supply option
On-site
renewable
energy
generation
Advantages
Disadvantages
More information
• Takes advantage of
existing renewable
energy supply
• Confusing in prospect
• Upfront cost if no system
already in place
• Clean Energy Council solar
PV accreditation www.
solaraccreditation.com.au/
• More obvious link to
renewable energy supply
• Measurement and accounting
required to reconcile EV charging
with renewable energy production
• Alternative Technology
Association
www.ata.org.au
• Need to cater for off-site charging
• Clean Energy Regulator http://
ret.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/
• May prove more costly than
GreenPower or REC purchase
GreenPower
or Renewable
Energy
Certificate
(REC) purchase
Charging
service
agreement
• No upfront costs
• Ongoing costs
• Your electricity retailer
• Simple
• GreenPower may struggle with
off-site charging
• GreenPower program
www.greenpower.gov.au
• REC purchase a burden and
may be complicated
• REC trading companies
• Most reliable way of
linking EV charging to
renewable energy use
• REC purchase
accommodates
off-site charging
• Measurement and accounting
required if only a percentage
of the bill is GreenPower or
to reconcile with RECs
• Likely to support
off-site charging
• Need to account for charging
using outlets not operated by
your contracted provider
• Simple
• Good information and
charge management
capabilities
www.transport.vic.gov.au/evtrials
• Ongoing costs
• Upfront cost for a dedicated
charging unit (if so desired)
Electric vehicle charging
service providers
Measuring EV energy use
On-site Renewable Energy Generation
Vehicle energy efficiency is influenced by a range of factors including
driving style, use of accessories (particularly heating and cooling),
traffic conditions, and the amount of passengers and luggage.
Using renewable energy generated on site is an obvious
but complicated zero emissions charging option.
For this reason charging energy should be measured instead
of calculated on manufacturer’s figures. This can be done
a number of ways, including via:
For owners of “grid-connected” renewable energy systems
installed before 2011, the renewable energy generated by
their system is accounted for through RECs. In this case, for the
operator to claim the energy used as being renewable they must:
• Vehicle data – if equipped with this capability,
noting that many are not
• Ensure that the amount of energy produced by
the system will satisfy their EV charging needs, and
• Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) – dedicated
charging units which may cost between $500 and $4000,
provide a range of features including enhanced safety,
improved charging times, remote energy management
and monitoring, and will generally need to be installed
by a licensed electrician
• Voluntarily surrender the corresponding amount of RECs
(rather than sell or trade them) or avoid creating RECs
in the first place.
• Electricity consumption monitor – a simple device
which may cost around $100, be possible for the
homeowner to install, and provides basic information
which may need to be manually checked
Additional options in terms of home energy management
may also be available via your energy retailer and ultimately
the ‘smart meter’ that is being installed in all Victorian homes.
For owners of small-scale systems (such as rooftop solar cells)
that were installed any time from 2011 onwards, the new form
of REC called a Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) is
accounted for in a way that means the owner retains renewable
energy created. In this instance, the operator may claim their
charging energy to be renewable if the average energy generated
by their system is equal to or greater than the average energy
used for charging.
For owners of large-scale systems that were installed any
time from 2011 onwards, the market works as for the pre-2011
systems however the RECs are now known as Large-scale
Generation Certificates (LGCs).
For systems which are not grid-connected or covered by RECs,
it is possible to charge using renewable energy. For charging
outside of times when sufficient energy is being produced,
energy will need to be drawn from a storage facility such
as a battery bank (a role normally played by the grid).
A typical EV charging arrangement for a household with renewable energy supply.
Charging energy may be measured via one or more of the EV, EVSE or the electricity consumption monitor.
Solar photovoltaic system
Electric Vehicle (EV)
www.transport.vic.gov.au/evtrials
Grid connection
EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) or Electricity consumption monitor
GreenPower or Renewable Energy
Certificate (REC) Purchase
Charging Service Agreements
GreenPower is a means of purchasing renewable energy through
your electricity retailer. There is no upfront cost, and the ongoing
costs as of November 2012 for 100 per cent GreenPower are
around 5c per kWh on top of the standard electricity tariff.
This translates to around $1 extra for a full EV battery charge.
GreenPower is often purchased as a percentage of your overall
electricity bill. By measuring EV energy use and ensuring this
is covered by the amount of GreenPower purchased, the costs
of your renewable energy charging strategy can be minimised.
The GreenPower program is based upon a trading market
for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). RECs are issued
to renewable energy generators for each unit of accredited
energy they produce. To ensure the environmental benefits,
only renewable energy projects that meet strict environmental
standards receive accreditation.
GreenPower or RECs may also be bought separately to your
actual electricity usage from your retailer or a trader. This approach
has the advantage of supporting charging away from your home
address should it use non-renewable electricity. Careful accounting
is required to ensure your GreenPower or REC purchases cover
all your charging needs.
Specialist EV charging service providers are new businesses
that have emerged to cater for the needs of EV operators.
These companies offer dedicated EV charging technology
installation and operation, enhanced energy management
and safety, data provision, public charging network access,
and most pertinently to this guidance – renewable energy
supply arrangements.
For EV charging service providers who have committed to
renewable energy supply, drivers may utilise their network to
charge in a variety of locations and be confident that they’re
using renewable energy. This is usually accessed through a
membership or subscription arrangement, although pay-per-use
options may also be available.
Variations in the electricity supply arrangements from one
location to the next may require individual charging outlets
to be confirmed as being supplied with renewable energy –
as with all things it pays to check the fine print.
The GreenPower renewable energy purchasing program
$
You buy
a percentage
of GreenPower
Audits
Greenpower
provider
its
ed
Renewable
energy
www.transport.vic.gov.au/evtrials
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 121 Exhibition St, Melbourne Victoria 3000
Impact
DOT7377/12
$
Increase in
renewable energy
Cr
$ Invested in
renewable energy
Government Accredited