The concept of making the energy stored in plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) batteries available to commercial buildings and residences with intelligent building energy management systems, known as vehicle-to-building (V2B) technology, has been studied since the 1990s. Today, these approaches have the potential to provide storage capacity to benefit the vehicle owner and the building owner, by offsetting some of the higher cost of PEVs, by lowering the energy costs of the building, and by providing reliable emergency backup services. According to a new report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, investment in V2B infrastructure by battery makers, building owners, automakers, and energy technology providers will grow steadily through the remainder of the decade.

From 2012 through 2020, the study concludes, these investments will total $279 million.

“With V2B technology installed in the vehicle and at the building, vehicles can compete with traditional local generation, as well as stationary storage, for offsetting demand charges or providing peak shaving services,” says research director John Gartner. “While its counterpart, vehicle-to-grid (V2G), requires many vehicles to be aggregated to provide a useful amount of power to support the grid, and is also limited by the extent that grid operators are incentivized to develop the market structures and technologies, even a single PEV can be of value to a commercial or residential building.”

Unlike V2G, interest in V2B is independent of smart grid investment; in fact, demand is greater in areas with less-reliable power grids. Automakers and truck manufacturers in these areas will be encouraged to put this technology in their vehicles to avoid losing power at their facility, and PEV owners may choose to retrofit their vehicles to participate, according to the report. Countries like China, India, and Japan are likely to have more PEVs participating in V2B activities.

The report, “Vehicle to Building Technologies”, examines the market opportunity for V2B technologies targeted at demand charge avoidance, peak shaving, time-of-use pricing, and other utility energy pricing programs to reduce the cost of building operations and to provide emergency backup power. The study analyzes both the technology issues and government policy factors associated with the growth of V2B, as well as key barriers to adoption. Key market participants are profiled and forecasts are provided for V2B-enabled vehicles and service revenues through 2020. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Pike Research website.

About Pike Research

Pike Research, which joined Navigant’s global Energy Practice on July 1, 2012, provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Grid, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors. Additional information about Pike Research can be found at www.navigant.com/pikeresearch.

About Navigant

Navigant (NYSE: NCI) is a specialized, global expert services firm dedicated to assisting clients in creating and protecting value in the face of critical business risks and opportunities. Through senior level engagement with clients, Navigant professionals combine technical expertise in Disputes and Investigations, Economics, Financial Advisory and Management Consulting, with business pragmatism in the highly regulated Construction, Energy, Financial Services and Healthcare industries to support clients in addressing their most critical business needs. More information about Navigant can be found at www.navigant.com.

* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, “Vehicle to Building Technologies,” is a summary and reflects Pike Research’s current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report’s conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Pike Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.