As India’s electric mobility landscape accelerates, the intersection of EV adoption, grid resilience, and intelligent energy management is becoming more critical than ever. In this exclusive interaction with Smart Energy Magazine, Graham Dudgeon, Senior Principal Product Manager for Electrical Technology at MathWorks, and Vijayalayan R, Senior Manager – Application Engineering (Automotive Industry and Control Design) at MathWorks, share their expert insights on how bidirectional charging, smart algorithms, and advanced simulation tools are shaping the future of India’s power ecosystem. From managing rising electricity demand to enabling vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration, they outline how technology is paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable energy future. Read the full interview to explore how these innovations are set to redefine mobility and grid stability in the years ahead.
Q. India’s EV ecosystem is accelerating rapidly. From your perspective, what does this growth mean for the future of India’s electricity demand and grid management?
The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy generation is accelerating worldwide, and India is a part of this shift. EV sales in India have grown more than 11.5 times since FY2020, according to VAHAN Dashboard, Telangana RTO and JMK Research. By the end of FY2025, India expects 6.2 million EVs to be on the roads.
The EV growth will amplify challenges caused by fast-charging stations in India, which draw high power and risk grid overloads without mitigation.
The increased demand challenges grid stability but also creates opportunities for smarter energy management. Integrating EVs as flexible resources through technologies like V2G can help balance supply and demand, reduce peak loads, and support renewable integration. The future grid will need advanced forecasting, dynamic pricing, and robust infrastructure to handle this transformation.
Q. Many experts are now looking at bidirectional charging and V2G technology as a solution. For those new to the concept, how would you explain bidirectional charging in the simplest terms?
Bidirectional charging allows energy to flow from the grid to the EV battery and back from the EV to the grid. In simple terms, your car becomes a mobile energy storage unit. When demand is high, EVs can supply power to stabilize the grid; when demand is low, they charge normally. This two-way interaction turns EVs into active participants in energy ecosystems, not just consumers.
Q. What are the key engineering challenges companies face when developing bidirectional EV chargers and smart charging systems at scale?
Developing bidirectional chargers involves complex power electronics to enable safe two-way energy flow. Engineers need to develop this safely and efficiently and at scale, without compromising grid stability and battery health.
The EV ecosystem is diverse and fragmented. Hence, interoperability across diverse EV models and compliance with grid codes is critical. Robust communication protocols are vital to prevent system vulnerabilities. These challenges matter because any failure in design or control can lead to inefficiencies, grid instability, or safety risks—making rigorous testing and validation essential before deployment.
Q. How can simulation tools help engineers model grid behaviour, predict energy flow, and validate algorithms before deploying hardware?
In bidirectional power converter development, design engineers use behavioral models to simulate the battery, power converter and its control algorithms, and grid connection. These models accurately represent the technology’s behavior in development and address engineering challenges at each stage of the development process.
To ensure that large-scale deployment of EVs and bidirectional power converters will not compromise grid stability or reliability, engineers analyze how these systems interact with the grid under a wide range of operating conditions. Engineers employ system-level simulation studies, which are essential for evaluating component and grid-level performance.
Tools like MATLAB® and Simulink® enable energy flow prediction, stress-test scenarios, and validation of safety-critical logic without costly prototypes. This approach reduces development time, ensures compliance, and minimizes risk—helping companies deliver reliable, scalable bidirectional charging solutions faster.
Q. Smart charging is often mentioned as the backbone of V2G. What innovations are happening in algorithm design to ensure safe, efficient, and scalable two-way charging?
Smart charging algorithms are becoming smarter by using real-time data and predictions. They can decide when to charge or discharge based on grid demand, electricity prices, and battery health
Advanced simulation models and smart charging algorithms enable precise energy management optimization, improving grid resilience and reducing reliance on emission-intensive power plants. New designs use AI and machine learning to forecast energy needs and avoid overloads. These algorithms also ensure charging is safe, efficient, and works for millions of EVs at the same time.
Q. How do you see bidirectional charging shaping India’s energy ecosystem over the next 5–10 years?
Bidirectional charging will transform EVs into distributed energy assets, supporting renewable integration and reducing grid stress. Over the next decade, expect widespread adoption of V2G-enabled fleets, dynamic energy markets, and microgrid solutions. This shift will make India’s energy ecosystem more resilient, sustainable, and consumer-centric, aligning with national clean energy goals.