The University of California, Irvine (UCI) has an exceptional program to address the development and deployment of efficient, environmentally sensitive, sustainable power generation and energy conversion worldwide. It’s called the Advanced Power and Energy Program and Kia is excited to partner with them! Keep reading for more information on this partnership.
Students will help develop and demonstrate Vehicle-to-Grid advanced smart charging software algorithms. This helps electronic vehicles communicate with the power grid and receive bi-directional power flow, managing energy demand and enabling energy storage. Kia will assist by providing six 2016 Kia Soul EV vehicles.
“Grid-connected electric vehicles offer tremendous potential in terms of energy storage and dispersion during high-demand periods, and Kia is excited to collaborate with APEP in the study and development of advanced smart grid technologies,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, KMA. “Kia’s green car roadmap calls for a dramatic expansion of electrified vehicles over the next five years, and we are proud of the role the Soul EV will play in helping UCI’s students and faculty develop new and better advanced smart charging technologies.”
“We are pleased to collaborate with Kia in conducting research on these important topics,” said Scott Samuelsen, Director of APEP. “The rapidly evolving coupling of vehicles and the electric grid requires planning based on informed decisions supported by the market-based, systems analyses provided by the Kia/APEP program.”
Come check out the 2016 Kia Soul EV at Folsom Lake Kia in the El Dorado Hills, CA area. There are a variety of new and pre-owned Kia vehicles in stock as well. So whatever you are looking for in a vehicle, we will help you find it. We hope to see you soon.
