Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming an important part of the evolving energy infrastructure. Equipped with large-capacity lithium-ion batteries, bidirectional inverters, and standardized communication protocols, EVs enable new modes of distributed energy exchange, load balancing, and participation in grid services. Their large-scale deployment directly accelerates the decentralization of traditional vertically distributed energy systems.
Anatolii Burlakov, Energy Project Manager with experience in EVSE systems engineering, BESS integration, and interactive grid infrastructure design, shared his experience with RetroElectro, EVCS, and NV5 to demonstrate how electric vehicles are driving innovation in energy storage architectures and distribution infrastructures.
EVs as Distributed Energy Storage Units (DESUs)
Modern EVs operate as mobile distributed energy storage units (DESUs). With battery capacities often exceeding 60-100 kWh, many EVs now rival or exceed residential BESS systems in scale. When paired with bidirectional AC/DC inverters and V2X-compatible Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), they can function as both loads and dispatchable assets in the grid.
Technologies such as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), Vehicle-to-Building (V2B), and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) leverage smart energy management systems (EMS) to enable dynamic charging and discharging based on grid signals, time-of-use rates, or on-site renewable generation profiles.
RetroElectro: Platform for Experimental Integration
Working with RetroElectro, Anatolii Burlakov has been actively involved in converting internal combustion engine vehicles into fully electric powertrains. This includes designing high-voltage battery cases, implementing liquid cooling for thermal management, and integrating open-source battery management systems (BMS). These retrofitted vehicles have provided opportunities for experimentation and testing:
• Direct PV-to-EV charging setups using MPPT solar charge controllers;
• Onboard battery diagnostics and cell-level balancing;
• Regenerative braking and dual-mode drive inverters;
• Smart charging algorithms for non-standard AC sources.
This R&D-focused environment provided insight into EV behavior as a controllable DER (Distributed Energy Resource) – with tunable charge/discharge cycles and low-latency response capabilities.
EVCS: Grid-Interactive Charging Infrastructure
During his time at EVCS, Anatolii helped roll out a network of Level 2 and DC fast chargers co-located with battery energy storage systems (BESS). These systems were equipped with energy management controllers and power conversion units to enable advanced demand response and load shaping. Anatolii also led the creation of performance dashboards in Tableau, tracking metrics such as:
• Utilization rates (kWh/session/day);
• Charger availability (Uptime, MTBF);
• Peak load contribution and demand curtailment;
• Spatial energy analytics for deployment strategy.
These analytics supported grid-aware charger deployment, aligning EVSE rollouts with circuit-level constraints, substation capacities, and DER hosting capacity maps provided by IOUs.
NV5: Full-Stack Infrastructure Design and Integration
At NV5, Anatolii Burlakov now plays a key role in the end-to-end design of integrated energy systems. These projects combine:
• Photovoltaic (PV) arrays sized for behind-the-meter EVSE support;
• BESS units (typically LFP-based, 100-500 kWh) for time-shifting and backup;
• Multi-port EVSE with OCPP 2.0.1 compatibility and ISO 15118 handshake;
• Full NEC/CEC-compliant electrical design and site-specific load forecasting.
The process includes electrical load flow modeling, protection coordination studies, and PV+EV co-simulation for grid interconnection applications. By integrating EV charging into the schematic design phase, NV5 ensures harmonization with facility EMS, resiliency planning, and net energy metering (NEM) compliance.
Decentralized Power Networks: Enabled by EV Penetration
The scaling of EVs contributes to grid decentralization along four vectors:
1. System architecture:
• Integration of DERs and edge computing devices;
• Reduced reliance on centralized generation and substation infrastructure.
2. Data & communication:
• Use of ISO 15118, OpenADR, and MQTT for load control and dynamic scheduling;
• Real-time telemetry via cloud-based EMS and SCADA systems.
3. Grid services participation:
• Aggregated EV fleets as virtual power plants (VPPs);
• Revenue streams via frequency regulation, load shaping, and energy arbitrage.
4. Sociotechnical models:
• Community-based microgrids and energy cooperatives;
• Local resiliency through mobile energy deployment and emergency backup.
Future Outlook: Grid-Conscious Fleets and Energy Mobility
Emerging scenarios include school buses and last-mile delivery fleets that charge from distributed PV+BESS sites, then feed back into the grid during peak hours. Fleet telematics will integrate with EMS platforms, enabling the automated dispatch of vehicle-stored energy to feeder lines or critical loads.
In the long term, autonomous electric vehicles could act as dynamic storage on wheels, responding to grid price signals, congestion alerts, or load imbalance events, effectively merging mobility and energy distribution.
Conclusion
EVs are reshaping both the form and function of modern energy infrastructure. Their battery capacity, mobility, and intelligence enable them to function as flexible, bidirectional assets within the grid. As DER penetration grows and grid edge intelligence increases, EVs will not only transport people – they will transport energy, stability, and resilience.
For engineers, planners, and utilities, embracing EVs as grid-interactive, storage-capable DERs is key to building a cleaner, more decentralized, and smarter energy future.