The statistics indicate that electric vehicles represent a minor portion of cars on the road, making up just
9%
Of light-duty vehicle sales in the third quarter of 2024 — nonetheless, the pace at which electric vehicle technology is advancing is remarkable.
The latest horizon for electric vehicles is known as
bidirectional charging
where your vehicle’s large battery might
supply auxiliary power to your residence
During a power outage, companies such as Ford, GM, Volvo, and Tesla have incorporated bidirectional charging into certain versions of their vehicles. Additionally, numerous other manufacturers plan to make this feature standard across all their models within the near future.
2025
and
2026
. With the number of EVs sold increasing rapidly — with the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
projecting between 30 and 42 million electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2030 — updates on EVs extend beyond
saving money on gas
or helping to
reduce carbon emissions
.
As more electric vehicle makers embrace bidirectional charging technology, this capability might soon supplant residential energy storage solutions such as the
Tesla Powerwall
.
Solar batteries
provide backup power whenever you need it, but they cost thousands of dollars to install and you only use them for one thing. Bidirectional charging offers EV owners two-for-one solutions, giving them mobility and putting their EVs to work while sitting in the garage.
“Bidirectional charging is set to become more prevalent, with 2025 marking a turning point for this technology,” stated Thomas Martin, who leads sales engineering efforts.
Swtch
, a company that offers EV charging solutions for multitenant buildings.
Ecosundiaries.com spoke with specialists from automobile manufacturers and researchers studying the technology to determine the future relationship between homes and cars. Can bidirectional charging truly substitute for independent residential backup power systems? And what obstacles prevent this technology from moving beyond a specialized option, even within electric vehicles, towards widespread adoption?
This is how the future of bidirectional charging will appear in 2025.
How will bidirectional charging appear in 2025?
As leading car manufacturers introduce bidirectional charging capabilities across their electric vehicle ranges, we anticipate substantial uptake beginning this year, with businesses shifting focus beyond mere support.
home charging solutions for vehicles
, also known as “V2H,” however, electric vehicle charging for
everything
— “V2X.”
Given that firms such as GM have pledged to incorporate V2X technology into every vehicle they produce by 2026, the count of participating cars in V2X systems is set to increase rapidly,” stated Martin. “Such growth will be essential for achieving a significant threshold, which could then drive broader market involvement.
What’s significant isn’t merely about customer uptake and technological proficiency. Two major developments expected this year revolve around commercial vehicle fleets and residential energy control systems.
V2G will soon be a much more significant factor for fleet operators.
The future landscape of bidirectional charging will vary significantly between fleet operators and typical consumers. Consider the case of a
A UPS facility utilizing a two-way charging setup for its vehicles.
In a vehicle-to-grid, commonly referred to as “V2G,” configuration. As stated by
Omer Onar
At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the system utilized by UPS enables wireless charging capabilities and also facilitates returning power to the electrical grid.
This microgrid configuration can theoretically be suitable for anybody owning a sizable fleet, including
school buses
,
churches
, car rentals,
trucking companies
, public transportation systems, among others. Such extensive fleets function according to a structured and consistent timetable, making them advantageous for vehicle-to-grid initiatives.
A residential energy management system is essential.
Alexander Petrofski, who leads Volvo Cars Energy Solutions, imagines that customers will require an energy arbitrage system for their electric vehicle. This system would use an algorithm to optimize when the car charges and discharges based on both household power usage and fluctuating electricity rates.
To make efficient and effective use of bidirectional charging, customers require a system that automatically charges their vehicles during periods of lower cost and discharges the stored energy back into the grid when prices are higher. This arbitrage capability is already present in systems such as home batteries like the
SolarEdge Home Battery
and
Tesla Powerwall 3
However, car manufacturers and companies such as EcoFlow, Savant, Jackery, and Bluetti are also joining this trend.
Regarding the automobile sector, Ford has joined forces with Sunrun and BGE.
pilot program
To showcase the abilities of the F-150 Lightning and its potential for powering homes as well as returning energy to the grid, General Motors has initiated similar efforts.
GM Energy PowerBank
A fixed storage solution designed for electric vehicle owners allows them to save power and supply energy back to the grid. This setup includes a comprehensive home energy management system capable of providing power to a house during outages and reducing reliance on expensive electricity at times of high demand.
Virtual power plants
Additionally, you’ll need several components to align perfectly. This includes obtaining a vehicle along with a home inverter that’s part of a virtual power plant initiative. The management and upkeep of this setup fall under the purview of both the VPPs and utility companies, but handling these aspects can get quite complex.
Additionally, each residential charging station must be installed and linked to the internet for participation in the VPP. This setup allows the system to accurately estimate the number of electric vehicles currently charged enough at any specific time. For example, the initiative cannot draw power from cars only holding a 5-10% battery level since these would require initial charging before being made available, ensuring their usability remains intact for vehicle owners.
Martin suggests that VPP and grid services will probably become more successful as the market sees an increase in volume. As more individuals adopt the system and the count of interconnected vehicles goes up, attaining predictability should become simpler.
Recent advancements showcased at CES 2025
Advanced energy management systems really took off.
CES 2025
. EcoFlow
announced Oasis
An AI-driven home energy management system designed to integrate seamlessly with current EcoFlow offerings and comprehensive residential backup power systems. This solution leverages artificial intelligence along with predictive analysis and automated controls to oversee household power requirements and coordinate effectively with domestic photovoltaic setups. Its capabilities include optimizing energy consumption based on fluctuating utility costs, forecasting upcoming energy demands, accounting for variations in solar production, adjusting according to differing electrical tariffs, and considering prevailing climatic conditions.
They weren’t alone in this, with Savant showcasing its
New Smart Budget electrical control board
This system comprises expandable power modules that can be integrated into your current electrical panel. The accompanying software assists in managing household energy consumption efficiently, making sure that the demand does not surpass the available capacity. It manages power distribution by prioritizing certain uses, tracking real-time electricity use, disconnecting non-essential appliances when needed, and maintaining equilibrium with respect to the service line’s maximum limits.
Bluetti has also introduced advanced energy management systems and devices. Using Bluetti technology, there’s the
EnergyPro 6K
Designed for small to medium-sized residences as an emergency power supply, this system can be integrated into current rooftop solar installations when coupled with the AT1 Smart Distribution Box. It also facilitates two-way electric vehicle charging along with generator charging capabilities.
Lastly,
Jackery’s HomePower EnergySystem
It is scheduled for release later this year. This modular power solution ranges from 7.7 kWh to 15.4 kWh when stacked together. The setup includes batteries, a combined AC/DC converter known as a hybrid inverter, and a central control unit designed to handle various loads efficiently. Additionally, it seamlessly connects with electric vehicle charging stations, auxiliary power supplies like backup generators, and pre-existing residential photovoltaic installations.
Could bidirectional charging substitute for a home battery?
“I’ve never owned a home battery,” explained Ryan O’Gorman, who leads energy services and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) initiatives at Ford. “All I have is an F150 Lightning. During a significant storm we experienced in Michigan this past summer, many trees and power lines were damaged in my neighborhood. The outage lasted for about three days — however, I didn’t lose electricity because I relied entirely on my pickup truck throughout that period, and once the power returned, I still had nearly 100 miles of range remaining.”
The typical electric vehicle owner probably won’t detect much impact from utilizing their car for power storage. “One advantage of having your vehicle connected,” explained O’Gorman, “is that losing 15 to 30 miles worth of range doesn’t really stand out to the user. Plus, you can recharge it within less than one hour, based on the specific model.”
While not everyone we consulted was convinced that bidirectional charging would completely take over from home batteries, some insights were shared regarding specific scenarios. Martin pointed out, “For those living in isolated areas who require a solution for extended periods of backup power, investing in a home battery system might be more cost-effective. Such systems can hold larger amounts of energy and won’t pose issues when needing mobility during prolonged blackouts.”
We don’t truly view this as an either-or situation,” stated Ben Clarin, the senior project manager at the organization.
Electric Power Research Institute
, an entity dedicated to offering unbiased and objective insights into the industry. According to Clarin, both options have the potential to assist individuals during power disruptions. While acknowledging space exists for bidirectional charging alongside residential energy storage solutions such as home batteries, she doesn’t foresee technologies akin to the Tesla Powerwall being entirely superseded by bidirectional charging systems.
Clarin suggested that bidirectional charging could be effective for residential scenarios where having a home battery is impractical, like in multi-unit buildings where residents cannot possess individual battery backups because of limited space and cost constraints.
The present condition of two-way power transfer
As the title implies, bidirectional charging allows your car to transform its stored direct current (DC) energy into alternating current (AC) electricity, supplying power back to your house or the electrical grid. This reverses the conventional, single-direction charging method used with electric vehicles (EVs), where power usually flows from an AC outlet through to the battery.
EV charger
and a car battery that transforms it into direct current (DC) energy.
The technical execution is quite simple, but the true promise of bidirectional charging emerges from the multitude of potential applications. Take for example V2H charging; this allows your car to act as an emergency power source when there’s a blackout.
“Aseem Kapur, who serves as the chief revenue officer, stated that there are essentially two primary use cases,” he said.
GM Energy
, a unit under GM that offers services such as energy storage solutions, electric vehicle charging, and more. “There’s one aspect which purely focuses on resilience; this involves using your vehicle to supply power during blackouts at home. This turns into quite a beneficial feature when you consider how your car can function not just as a mode of transportation but also as an energy source. It allows your vehicle to act like a stationary battery, enhancing its utility by integrating it with fixed storage systems.”
Once fully charged, an average electric vehicle can hold
60 kilowatt-hours of electricity
, which can supply power to a home for approximately two days. However, based on how much you use it, this system frequently lasts even longer. This feature makes it quite practical to utilize your electric vehicle as an emergency power source at home.
“If I look at your standard, off-the-shelf stationary storage [it has] somewhere between 7 and 13 kilowatt-hours of power,” O’Gorman said. “That’s fantastic, but that’s really [only] somewhere between 15 and 30 miles on the vehicle — these vehicles can get 300 miles.” Essentially, that means the average person using their EV as an emergency power option is unlikely to really notice any significant drain on their vehicle’s mileage, making it practical to use as a power backup during emergencies.
There are additionally choices such as
vehicle for loading, also called “V2L,”
This enables you to utilize an adapter to have your vehicle supply power to items such as camping gear, power tools, household appliances, and various gadgets. According to Martin, getting started with basic vehicle-to-load functionality requires virtually nothing extra. He mentioned, “Should your vehicle come equipped with an outlet where you can connect an extension cord, then plugging in your devices should be straightforward.”
This makes V2L the initial bidirectional charging application that most consumers will probably encounter. Additionally, there’s vehicle-to-vehicle, or “V2V,” functionality, allowing one electric vehicle to supply power to another that has depleted its batteries, much like using jumper cables from one car to start another, though perhaps a better comparison would be drawing fuel from one tank to refill another.
Issues with broad implementation of two-way charging technology
Switching to bidirectional charging isn’t as straightforward as implementing a software update or acquiring additional hardware. Both manufacturers and consumers will have to navigate through various challenges.
Car capabilities and charging station capabilities
The primary obstacle to bidirectional charging and various vehicle-to-everything technologies and applications lies in the capabilities of the vehicles themselves,” according to Martin from Swtch. “Although there are chargers available that can handle V2X, the scarcity of compatible vehicles diminishes the current impact of this charger technology.
This trend will shift in the upcoming years. At General Motors alone, Kapur highlighted several newly introduced electric vehicles such as the Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado, along with the Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Sierra. Each of these models comes equipped for bi-directional functionality and integrates seamlessly with GM’s vehicle-to-home system.
The most notable present instance is the Ford.
F150 Lighting
with its
Ford Connected Charging Station Pro
, a $1,310 bidirectional charger included at no additional cost with certain electric truck models.
We anticipate that other automobile companies will also adopt this practice, allowing their cars to utilize bidirectional charging. Volvo has confirmed that they will be doing so as well.
Volvo EX90
will have the ability for bidirectional charging and is developing an AC bidirectional charger in Europe. The Swedish automaker also has a collaboration with
dcbel
,to introduce a bidirectional DC home energy station to the U.S. market.
Installation and Upgrade Expenses
Bidirectional charging comes with a higher price tag compared to standard electric vehicle charging. As stated by Martin, “Should you wish to expand functionality—such as using your car as an emergency power source at home or participating in Vehicle-to-Grid initiatives—the primary hurdle is financial.” He further explained that acquiring the necessary equipment entails investing several thousand dollars for a suitable charger along with a disconnect switch, not to mention finding adequate installation space.
Space constraints and expenses might render bidirectional charging unfeasible in multifamily buildings, yet individual home owners could also encounter unforeseen costs. Certain residences feature outdated wiring systems and electric panels incapable of handling 200-amp electrical services. For those wishing to fully benefit from bidirectional charging, upgrading their electrical panel might become necessary, adding further financial burden.
O’Gorman notes that some bidirectional chargers, such as Ford’s Charge Station Pro, can adjust their charging output based on what the electrical setup can handle. Therefore, upgrading your panel may not be essential if you’re okay with using less than the maximum potential of 19 kWh from these chargers.
Regulatory environment
A crucial aspect of bidirectional charging relies heavily on the regulatory landscape. The procedure for purchasing and selling electricity back to the power grid typically falls under the jurisdiction of individual states and utility providers. Certain states may have different regulations in place.
net metering
,enabling you to receive payment for additional electricity generated by your solar panels.
“It’s commonly known within the industry as an interconnection agreement,” he stated.
Andrew Meitz
The chief engineer for electric vehicle charging and grid integration at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory stated, “Every piece of equipment added to your home that can send power back into the grid must be certified. Additionally, you are required to inform the utility company about having this type of power-generating device.”
Energy shifting and capacity shifting
— This refers to the compensation you receive for storing energy in your home battery or electric vehicle and then returning it to the grid — can differ substantially from one state to another. On an international level, the European Union has urged for legislative changes due to grid fees and taxes imposed on purchasing and selling electricity, which complicates participation for individual consumers.
These challenges closely mirror those faced by virtual power plants. As stated by Mark Dyson, “The regulatory environment for virtual power plants spans beyond the 50 states of the U.S.; it extends into the distinct utility regions found within each state.”
RMI
The managing director of electricity said, “One of the primary challenges we observe is hindering the overall development and expansion of the market.”
Dyson stated that the main issue is customers needing an incentive to willingly supply energy back to the grid. He added, “These advantages remain inaccessible or unappealing until utilities and regulatory bodies enable these opportunities for customers via tariff structures, incentive initiatives, and modifications in how utilities strategize and manage their power networks, thus fully leveraging this asset at a large-scale level.”
Can two-way charging affect the lifespan and durability of a car battery?
An average electric vehicle owner probably doesn’t need to be overly concerned about their car battery wearing out due to bidirectional charging.
“Our analysis indicates that this shouldn’t pose a problem for typical consumers,” stated Petrofski. “Provided that bidirectional charging occurs within controlled limits, it won’t substantially affect the lifespan of the battery.” Petrofski noted that Volvo plans to restrict the use of bi-directional capabilities among customers who frequently deplete their car’s batteries excessively. These restrictions would take into account individual usage patterns such as specific driving habits and frequency of charging sessions.
As stated by Martin, the quickest way to degrade batteries is by subjecting them to non-ideal conditions,” he explained. “Frequently charging them rapidly to full capacity, particularly when it’s very hot or cold, will most likely cause visible deterioration.
As mentioned, technically speaking, the electric vehicle (EV) ought not to encounter issues when utilized as a home energy storage system, according to Martin. He states, “The current technology behind EV batteries can easily manage extra requirements like feeding electricity into the grid or sustaining a household for several days without issue. This could potentially happen multiple times each year, and generally, most car owners won’t face any significant difficulties.”
Another piece of positive information is that each manufacturer we consulted agreed that bidirectional charging is a feature compatible with their electric vehicles. This capability does not affect or alter the warranty, addressing a common worry among consumers.