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While electric vehicles (EVs) constitute a minority on roadways, accounting for just 9% of light-duty vehicle sales in the third quarter of 2024, the advancement of EV technology is occurring at a remarkable pace. A key development in electric mobility is bidirectional charging, a technology that enables EV batteries to not only draw power but also supply it back. This capability could allow your electric vehicle to serve as a home battery backup during electrical outages. Automotive giants such as Ford, GM, Volvo, and Tesla have already incorporated bidirectional charging into select models, with numerous other manufacturers planning to implement it across their entire lineups by 2025 and 2026. As electric vehicle adoption accelerates, with projections from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimating 30 to 42 million EVs in the US by 2030, the innovations in EVs extend beyond mere fuel cost savings and carbon footprint reduction.
With bidirectional charging gaining traction among EV manufacturers, it presents a potential alternative to dedicated home battery storage systems like the Tesla Powerwall. While solar batteries offer continuous backup power, their high installation costs and singular function raise questions about value. Bidirectional charging presents EV owners with a dual-purpose solution, leveraging their vehicles for both transportation and energy storage while parked.
Thomas Martin, sales engineering director at Swtch, an EV charging solutions provider, notes, “Bidirectional charging is poised for greater prevalence, with 2025 anticipated as a pivotal year for this technology.”
FASTNET consulted with experts from automakers and research institutions to explore the evolving relationship between homes and EVs. The central questions explored are whether bidirectional charging can effectively substitute standalone home backup batteries and what obstacles hinder this technology’s progression from a niche feature to a mainstream application.
This analysis examines the projected landscape of bidirectional charging in 2025.
Projected Outlook for Bidirectional Charging in 2025
As leading carmakers integrate bidirectional charging into their EV offerings, significant market penetration is expected to commence this year. The industry is moving beyond solely supporting Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) charging, expanding towards Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) capabilities.
Martin emphasizes the impact of automaker commitments, stating, “With companies like GM pledging to integrate V2X technology across their vehicle range by 2026, the volume of vehicles equipped for V2X will rapidly increase, fostering the critical mass needed to propel market adoption.”
Beyond consumer acceptance and technical advancements, key emerging trends in the coming year include applications for commercial fleets and advancements in home energy management systems.
Growing Significance of V2G for Fleet Operators
The deployment of bidirectional charging will vary for fleet operators compared to individual consumers. Consider the example of a UPS distribution center utilizing a Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) system for its electric delivery vehicles. Omer Onar, a researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, explains that UPS employs a system capable of wireless charging while simultaneously feeding power back into the electrical grid.
This microgrid model holds potential for organizations with substantial fleets, including school districts, religious institutions, rental car agencies, trucking firms, and public transportation systems. The predictable operational schedules of these large fleets make them especially well-suited for V2G programs.
Essential Role of Home Power Management Systems
Alexander Petrofski, head of Volvo Cars Energy Solutions, foresees the necessity of an energy management system for EV owners. This system would employ algorithms to optimize EV charging and discharging based on household energy consumption and fluctuating electricity prices.
Effective bidirectional charging necessitates a system that automates vehicle charging during periods of low electricity costs and facilitates power export back to the grid when prices are elevated. This arbitrage functionality is already present in home batteries like the SolarEdge Home Battery and Tesla Powerwall 3. However, automotive manufacturers and companies such as EcoFlow, Savant, Jackery, and Bluetti are also entering this market segment.
In the automotive sector, Ford has collaborated with Sunrun and BGE in a pilot program to showcase the capabilities of the F-150 Lightning in powering homes and contributing energy back to the grid. GM has also introduced the GM Energy PowerBank, a stationary energy storage system enabling EV owners to store power and supply energy to the grid. This system includes a comprehensive home energy management system designed to provide backup power during outages and reduce electricity costs during peak demand periods.
Virtual power plants (VPPs) require further integration. A functional VPP ecosystem necessitates compatible vehicles, home inverters connected to a VPP program, and ongoing maintenance by VPP operators and utility companies, presenting logistical complexities.
Furthermore, each home charger needs configuration and internet connectivity to participate in VPP programs, enabling accurate assessments of available vehicle charge levels. VPP systems must avoid drawing energy from vehicles with low charge levels (e.g., 5-10%), ensuring owners retain vehicle usability.
Martin suggests that greater market volume is crucial for VPP and grid service success. Increased adoption of these systems and a larger pool of connected EVs will enhance predictability and efficiency.
Smart Energy Advancements at CES 2025
Smart energy management systems were a prominent focus at CES 2025. EcoFlow unveiled Oasis, an AI-driven home energy management system compatible with EcoFlow products and whole-home backup power solutions. Oasis utilizes AI, predictive analytics, and automation to manage household energy needs and integrate with home solar systems. Features include adjusting energy consumption based on time-of-use pricing and anticipating future energy needs, solar generation, electricity rates, and weather patterns.
Savant showcased its Smart Budget electric panel, featuring modular power units for existing electrical panels. Software included regulates home energy usage, preventing demand exceeding capacity. It prioritizes power allocation, monitors real-time consumption, reduces unnecessary loads, and maintains usage within service line limits.
Bluetti also presented smart energy management systems and products. Bluetti’s EnergyPro 6K, designed for small to medium-sized residences, serves as a home backup solution. It integrates with existing rooftop solar systems, pairs with the AT1 Smart Distribution Box, and supports bidirectional EV charging and generator charging.
Jackery’s HomePower EnergySystem, a modular energy system scalable from 7.7 kWh to 15.4 kWh, is anticipated to launch later this year. Comprising battery units, a hybrid inverter, and a hub to manage loads, it integrates with EV chargers, backup generators, and existing home solar systems.
Viability of Bidirectional Charging as a Home Battery Replacement
Ryan O’Gorman, energy services and V2G business lead at Ford, remarked, “I have never owned a home battery, relying solely on the F150 Lightning. During a severe Michigan storm that caused widespread power outages, my home remained powered for three days by my truck, and even after power restoration, it still had nearly 100 miles of range remaining.”
For typical EV owners, the energy drain from using their vehicle as a backup power source is often imperceptible. O’Gorman explains, “A key advantage of using a vehicle is that drawing 15-30 miles of range for backup is almost unnoticed by the consumer. Recharging that amount typically takes less than an hour, depending on the vehicle and charger.”
However, not all experts concur that bidirectional charging will entirely supplant home batteries. Martin suggests, “For those in remote locations requiring extended backup power, a dedicated home battery system is likely more cost-effective. These systems generally offer greater energy storage capacity and ensure vehicle availability for transportation during prolonged outages.”
Ben Clarin, senior project manager at the Electric Power Research Institute, believes in coexistence, stating, “We don’t foresee a strict either-or scenario. Both technologies can effectively provide backup power during outages.” Clarin anticipates bidirectional charging and home battery systems coexisting, with the latter unlikely to be fully replaced by the former.
Clarin further notes that bidirectional charging is suitable for residential scenarios where home batteries are impractical, such as multi-unit dwellings where individual battery installations are limited by space and cost.
Current Landscape of Bidirectional Charging
Bidirectional charging is a process enabling EVs to convert their stored DC energy into AC electricity, supplying power back to homes or the grid. This reverses the conventional one-way EV charging process, which converts AC grid power to DC for battery storage.
While technically feasible, the true value of bidirectional charging lies in its diverse applications. One prominent application is V2H charging, where EVs function as backup generators during power disruptions.
Aseem Kapur, chief revenue officer at GM Energy, explains, “There are two primary use cases. First, a resilience application using the vehicle as a backup power source during outages. This adds significant value by making the vehicle a dual-purpose asset beyond transportation, serving as an energy resource in conjunction with stationary storage.”
An average EV battery, when fully charged, stores approximately 60 kWh of electricity, sufficient to power a home for about two days, and potentially longer depending on energy consumption. This capacity makes EVs practical as home backup power sources.
O’Gorman observes, “Standard stationary home batteries typically hold 7 to 13 kWh of power. While useful, this capacity is equivalent to only 15 to 30 miles of EV range, whereas EVs can achieve ranges of 300 miles.” Consequently, using an EV for emergency power is unlikely to significantly deplete its driving range, enhancing its practicality as a backup solution.
Vehicle-to-load (V2L) is another application, utilizing adapters to power camping equipment, tools, appliances, and other devices from an EV. Martin states, “Basic vehicle-to-load capability faces minimal barriers to entry. If your EV has a standard outlet, you can readily power devices.”
V2L is likely the initial bidirectional charging application experienced by most consumers. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging enables EVs to provide power to depleted EVs, analogous to jump-starting a car battery or transferring fuel between vehicles.
Challenges to Widespread Bidirectional Charging Adoption
Transitioning to bidirectional charging entails more than software updates or equipment upgrades, requiring manufacturers and consumers to overcome several challenges.
Vehicle and Charger Compatibility
Martin from Swtch identifies vehicle compatibility as the primary obstacle, stating, “The foremost barrier to bidirectional charging and V2X technologies is vehicle capability. Although V2X-compatible chargers exist, the limited availability of compatible vehicles currently diminishes their impact.”
This landscape is rapidly changing. Kapur cites GM’s recent EV releases, including the Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs, along with the Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Sierra, all equipped with bidirectional charging and compatible with GM’s vehicle-to-home system.
The Ford F-150 Lightning, featuring the Ford Connected Charge Station Pro—a $1,310 bidirectional charger included with some extended-range battery models—is a prominent example.
Other automakers are expected to follow suit. Volvo has confirmed bidirectional charging for the Volvo EX90 and is developing an AC bidirectional charger for Europe, partnering with dcbel to introduce a DC bidirectional home energy station to the US market.
Installation and Upgrade Costs
Bidirectional charging systems are more expensive than standard EV chargers. Martin notes, “For advanced functionalities like home backup or V2G program participation, cost is the main impediment. Purchasing a compatible charger and disconnect switch involves thousands of dollars, along with installation space requirements.”
Space and cost considerations may hinder bidirectional charging in multi-unit buildings. Single-family homeowners also face potential unexpected costs, particularly those with older wiring or electrical panels lacking 200-amp service. Maximizing bidirectional charging benefits may necessitate panel upgrades, adding further expense.
O’Gorman points out that certain bidirectional chargers, like Ford’s Charge Station Pro, can adjust charging rates to match existing electrical loads, potentially mitigating the necessity for panel upgrades, albeit at reduced charging capacity.
Regulatory Framework
Regulatory environments significantly influence bidirectional charging. Regulations governing electricity buyback and sales to the grid are typically determined by individual states and utility companies. Some states offer net metering, compensating for excess solar energy production.
Andrew Meitz, chief engineer for EV charging and grid integration at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, explains, “The process is often termed an interconnection agreement within the industry. Any device exporting power back to the grid must be certified and declared to the utility as a generating device.”
Energy and capacity arbitrage—compensation for energy stored and returned to the grid by home batteries or EVs—also varies significantly across states. The European Union has called for legislative changes to address grid fees and taxes on electricity trading, which currently impede private customer participation.
These regulatory hurdles mirror those facing virtual power plants. Mark Dyson, managing director of electricity at RMI, states, “The regulatory landscape for virtual power plants in the U.S. is fragmented across all 50 states and even individual utility territories, posing a major impediment to market growth.”
Dyson emphasizes the need for customer incentives to encourage grid power contributions, stating, “These benefits remain limited unless utilities and regulators create accessible and appealing mechanisms through rate design, incentive programs, and grid planning and operational adjustments to fully leverage this resource at scale.”
Impact on Car Battery Longevity and Wear
Typical EV users are unlikely to experience significant battery degradation from bidirectional charging.
Petrofski asserts, “Our data indicates that regular consumer use should not cause battery issues. As long as bidirectional charging is employed in a measured manner, it will not substantially impact battery lifespan.” Volvo intends to impose limits on bidirectional functionality for excessive battery usage, based on individual customer driving and charging patterns.
Martin explains the primary cause of battery degradation: “Battery degradation is accelerated by stressing the battery beyond ideal conditions. Frequent rapid charging to high charge levels, especially in extreme temperatures, is the most likely cause of noticeable degradation.”
Technically, EVs should not suffer issues when used as home battery backups. Martin concludes, “Current EV battery chemistries are well-equipped to handle the demands of supplying power back to the grid or powering homes for brief periods, even multiple times annually. Most EV owners should encounter no problems.”
Furthermore, automakers confirm that bidirectional charging is a supported EV function that will not invalidate warranties, addressing a common customer concern.