# The Spark Gap - Episode 7

- Show: [The Spark Gap](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap)
- Published: 2014-07-30
- Length: 57m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-07-30-the-spark-gap-episode-7
- Listen: https://thesparkgap.net/the-spark-gap-episode-7

## Summary

Rodney McGee, a researcher at the University of Delaware, discusses his work on Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, explaining how electric vehicles can serve as distributed energy storage to stabilize the power grid. He details the technical challenges of standardizing communication protocols between cars and charging stations, highlighting the flaws in existing PWM-based standards and proposing single-ended CAN bus as a robust, low-cost alternative. McGee also covers the economic incentives for users, the specific power electronics required for grid-tied inverters, and the regulatory hurdles facing widespread adoption.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-07-30-the-spark-gap-episode-7#t=0) Introduction and V2G Concept
- [8:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-07-30-the-spark-gap-episode-7#t=506) Battery Chemistry and Cycle Life
- [17:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-07-30-the-spark-gap-episode-7#t=1079) Charging Standards and Communication Protocols
- [27:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-07-30-the-spark-gap-episode-7#t=1623) CAN Bus Implementation and SAE Standards
- [40:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-07-30-the-spark-gap-episode-7#t=2420) Grid Integration and Frequency Regulation
- [51:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-07-30-the-spark-gap-episode-7#t=3084) Power Electronics and Microcontroller Selection

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- University of Delaware (other)
- AC Propulsion (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Nissan Leaf (product)
- SAE (other)
- PJM (other)
- Freestyle (other)
- Motorola (company)
- CAN bus (tool)
- Zigbee (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Can the V2X dream become reality?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-08-31-can-the-v2x-dream-become-reality) (Catalyst)
- [Solving a Renewables Problem with Electric Vehicles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-05-28-solving-a-renewables-problem-with-electric-vehicles) (EE Times Current)
- [The multi-billion dollar promise of vehicle-to-grid integration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-07-23-the-multi-billion-dollar-promise-of-vehicle-to-grid-integration) (Catalyst)
- [The non-Stinky Car](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-20-the-non-stinky-car) (The Amp Hour)
- [197. This Smart Charger = More EVs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-22-197-this-smart-charger-more-evs) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-07-30-the-spark-gap-episode-7. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Spark Gap.