Increasing User Uncertainty as a Barrier to the Acceptance of V2G Technology Among Electric Car Users

The efficient use of intermittent renewable energy requires the development of solutions that provide demand-side flexibility. A promising area is the use of electric car batteries as a buffer for the electricity grid. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology enables cars' charging intensities to be matched to the immediate availability of energy, and energy to be drawn from their batteries when grid power is scarce. The technology is already technically mature; however, the public's acceptance of such solutions has yet to be explored. This study adds to the knowledge on user attitudes to vehicle-to-grid charging. Nine qualitative interviews were conducted with electric car users in Spain in 2022. The results reveal that due to the relatively short range of electric cars and their long charging times, users' primary concern is to ensure that their vehicles' batteries are charged as much as possible. V2G technology increases the sense of uncertainty in this key dimension. Acceptance for V2G technology can be enhanced by the adaption of a charging algorithm to ensure that flexible charging does not increase users' anxiety. The communication must emphasise the individual and social benefits, rather than the fact that vehicles can remain uncharged in some situations.