Zigbee Alliance & SAE International Accelerate Electric Vehicle Connection to the Smart Grid
The ZigBee Alliance and SAE International announced their collaboration on ZigBee Smart Energy™ standard development. Their efforts will make ZigBee Smart Energy the preferred technology supporting Plug-In Electric Vehicles (PEV) and enabling essential vehicle to grid (V2G) communication and power capabilities.
ZigBee Smart Energy is the market leading home area network and advanced metering infrastructure standard for the Smart Grid. The collaboration recognizes the important role SAE International plays as the focal point for integrating automobile communication with emerging energy management requirements. Using ZigBee Smart Energy to define how PEVs and the grid interact, whether at the consumer’s home or at a remote location, will be one of the goals the two groups address. Ultimately, this initiative will provide future PEV drivers with the real-time information needed to control their transportation energy use, manage their charging costs and receive utility incentives for participating in PEV programs. It also provides the essential control functions necessary to safely manage the charging of PEVs while maintaining grid integrity.
"Adding ZigBee Smart Energy to PEVs will give automakers and utilities a common language to manage the charging, storage and use of energy in PEVs," said Richard Scholer, SAE Hybrid Vehicle Communications Task Force Committee Chair. "SAE International’s formidable task is to help coordinate the urgent efforts of many different companies, industries and disciplines. It realizes the faster standards appear, the sooner electric-powered vehicles can gain consumer acceptance as a new and reliable mode of transportation."
Work between the groups is already underway with completion targeted for next year when ZigBee Smart Energy version 2.0 is scheduled for completion. SAE International joins ZigBee Smart Energy development efforts led by some of the largest utilities, suppliers and technology companies in the world.
"With an estimated 40 million smart meters integrated with ZigBee Smart Energy in homes, SAE International’s involvement will give consumers an effective way to manage their PEV energy needs," said Bob Heile, Chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "With SAE International and ZigBee working together to create the needed standardized infrastructure, millions of consumers will be able to take advantage of rechargeable vehicles, speeding their adoption and allowing everyone to benefit."
