Your electric car’s battery could do much more than drive the wheels. In Part One of this vehicle-to-grid special, Martyn Lee explores how EVs can power appliances, supply a home or send electricity back to the grid. We explain AC and DC bidirectional charging, the differences between V2L, V2H and V2G, and why the car, charger and electricity supplier need to work together.
With manufacturers and energy companies bringing complete V2G packages to market, is this the turning point for wider adoption? We look at European household offers, Tesla’s Powershare home backup and grid support, and expanding shared-car fleets in the Netherlands. Projects in Australia, China and California show how cars and electric school buses are being used to support electricity networks.
We also explore what makes V2G useful: absorbing solar energy, meeting evening demand and helping keep the grid stable. But a parked car is only useful to the grid when it’s connected to compatible equipment and has energy to spare. From communication standards to installation and supplier restrictions, we examine what still needs to happen before V2G becomes an everyday choice—and set up Part Two’s question: is it worth it for the owner?
