Electric cars can soon not only charge but also feed electricity into the home grid. According to Handelsblatt, first offers for bidirectional charging are on the market, with more to follow. This allows e-car owners to use their vehicle as a home storage system and feed surplus energy back into the grid.
The prerequisite is a compatible wallbox and a vehicle that supports bidirectional charging. So far, models like the VW ID.4 or Hyundai Ioniq 5 offer this function. The technology enables using the car as a buffer for the home’s photovoltaic system or, with dynamic electricity tariffs, charging cheaply and selling back at higher prices.
Energy consultant Thomas Bugert told Handelsblatt: “An energy management system automatically starts the charging process when electricity is cheap.” Since 2020, tenants have had the right to landlord approval for installing a charging unit – even in underground garages. This allows them to use cheap household electricity as well.
According to a study by Fraunhofer ISI, pure public chargers pay up to 42 percent more than home chargers. ADAC warns: “Below around 50 cents per kWh, e-car drivers rarely get energy on the road.” Charging could further improve the economic viability of e-cars – especially for homeowners with their own solar system.
Source: www.handelsblatt.com
