Toyota Motor (TMC) has partnered with US-based utility company Duke Energy and the non-profit initiative Energy Systems Network (ESN) to participate in a joint smart-grid pilot project in Indianapolis, US.
The new smart-grid pilot project will help manage plug-in vehicle charging based on integrated communication between the vehicle and the electric power grid.
Under the project, which is expected to start in early 2013 and last for at least one year, Toyota will provide five Prius plug-in hybrid vehicles for regular use by consumer households supplied by Duke Energy in the Indianapolis area.
In addition, the Japanese car maker will also provide a charging station and a home gateway communication system communication system to be installed in each customer's home to allow monitoring and optimisation of charging as well as to evaluate the performance of the communication system between the vehicle and the grid.
Through a demand response system, which is based on communication standards developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the pilot project will equalise the load on the electric power grid.
SAE provides a bi-directional digital communication protocol between vehicles and utility companies.
Toyota's new pilot project will use advanced technologies to give customers the ability to achieve their own personal charging strategy.
In addition, the project will seek to develop an appropriate scheme to manage charging through a variable toll system.
