What’s bi-directional charging? And why is it the next big thing for EVs?
Your EV could soon power your home or office
What is bi-directional charging?
Bi-directional charging is the ability for your car battery to receive energy from the electricity grid and be also able to share the power it generates. There are two main categories:
Remind me how EV charging works?
When you charge an EV, the alternating current (AC) it receives from the electricity grid needs to be converted into direct current (DC) to make it the correct format to power a car battery. This happens either through a converter within the car or an external charger.
If you want to use the energy stored in the EV’s battery to power your home or send it back to the grid, the DC electricity from the car must be converted back to AC electricity. That’s done by a bi-directional charger.Bi-directional charging is most effective where solar power supplements electricity because this creates the capacity to generate more energywhen the sun is strong.
The advantages of bi-directional charging
Disadvantages of Bi-directional charging
Ok, so I have an EV and an EV charger. Can I get on board?
There’s a catch. Both your EVandyour charger need bi-directional charging capabilities.
As of February 2022, the only vehicles in the wild right now with bi-directional charging capabilities are:
However, this year, we can expect to see the capability in most newEVs, including:
You also need a charger capable of bi-directional charging.
Energy management company Wallbox recently launchedQuasar 2, the first bi-directional charger for home use.
I asked the company about vehicle compatibility. A representative of the business told me that the company follows standards likeISO 15118, which define bi-directional charging for CCS compatible vehicles.
In other words, Quasar2 is designed to align with new standards and next-generation EVs, including Ford, Hyundai, and Volkswagen.
Solar power is a game-changer
One of the most interesting trends to watch is the implementation of wall boxes which also capture photovoltaic (solar) energy.
Earlier this month, Fordunveiledits partnership with solar company Sunrun. Based on an average US home at 30 kilowatt-hours of use per day, a F-150 Lightning pickup with an extended-range battery provides full home power for up to three days, or as long as 10 days when used in conjunction with solar energy or rationing.
In the future, Ford Intelligent Power will allow customers to power their homes with their truck’s battery when electricity rates are higher, and charge the truck when rates are lower — or from their own solar-powered rooftop.
IntheNetherlands,the region of Utrecht is utilizing energy generated through electric vehicle charging, with 500 bi-directional charging stations available to the public.
SolarEV makerSono Motorsis providing 100 Sion solar electric vehicles which will becharged sustainably and deliver excess energy back into the grid inone of the first large-scale use cases of bi-directional charging in the megawatt range.
We are yet to see the full extent of bi-directional charging’s capabilities. While the initial cost of hardware might be steep, it’s an investment that will equip us to have more control over how we store and consume power. That’s good news for our electric infrastructure, and for vehicle owners at large.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin. She focuses on all things mobility: ebikes, autonomous vehicles, VTOL, smart ci(show all)Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin. She focuses on all things mobility: ebikes, autonomous vehicles, VTOL, smart cities, and the future of alternative energy sources like electric batteries, solar, and hydrogen.
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