Electric vehicles (EVs) hold untapped potential to enhance the shift to clean energy and transform the energy system. Findings from a study by the Fraunhofer ISI and ISE Institutes, published by Transport & Environment, reveal that implementing bidirectional charging could turn electric vehicles into so-called virtual power plants, while also delivering significant economic benefits.
Bidirectional charging technology enables electric vehicles to both draw power from the grid while charging and return power back to the grid when needed. This technology allows EV owners not only to charge their vehicles but also to feed electricity back into the power grid or into their own homes.
How Does Bidirectional Charging Work, and Why Is It Beneficial?
Unlike fast charging, which is necessary at public chargers, bidirectional charging is particularly advantageous for home use. When an electric vehicle charges, it draws power from the grid or from solar panels if the household has them. When the vehicle does not use all the energy stored in the battery, this energy can be returned to the grid or used to power the home, essentially turning the electric vehicle into an energy storage unit.
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Several benefits make bidirectional charging highly advantageous:
Economic Benefit – When electricity is fed back into the grid at times when prices are high, users can be compensated for that energy. Additionally, if the stored energy is used to power the home, electricity costs are reduced during high-price periods.
Promoting Renewable Energy Use – When solar panels generate more electricity than needed, that excess energy can be stored in the vehicle’s battery and then returned for household use as needed. This further reduces CO2 emissions and supports renewable energy adoption. Research indicates that bidirectional charging could encourage an additional 430 GW of solar capacity by 2040, almost double the current capacity of the European Union.
Grid Stabilization – If a large number of EV users adopted bidirectional charging, it would help stabilize the national power grid. During periods of high electricity demand, vehicles can return energy back to the grid, preventing overload.
Longer Battery Life – Bidirectional charging has been shown to extend the battery life of electric vehicles by up to nine percent compared to standard charging methods.
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