Network views of batteries are moving on from a threat to an opportunity for the grid. Who will take the benefit? Janet Wood looked at what happens if you view electric vehicles as storage instead of demand

The view on electric vehicles is evolving rapidly. The early narrative has moved on from concerns about the sheer amount of power required to one that considers the time of use, the likely addition to peak load, and the threat to the electricity network. That view is becoming more nuanced as more data are collected and consumers respond to charging schemes.