Installing Bidirectional Charging Solutions—Overcoming the Complexities of New Technology

What is Bidirectional Charging?

Unlike standard EV charging stations, a bidirectional EV charger sends energy to and from an EV battery. Bidirectional chargers are more sophisticated and expensive than standard ones, and few EVs available today can use them.

However, this new capability is becoming more common as new EV models are introduced into the marketplace.

Nissan was the first automaker to earn UL 9741 certification for bidirectional charging solutions in 2022 with their all-electric Leaf designed in partnership with Fermata Energy.

Ford introduced their bidirectional technology about two years ago when they released the F-150 Lightning truck, touting how it provides backup power to the home during emergencies that can combine with solar panels to provide even more energy independence.

Today, many other automakers are rolling out EVs with bidirectional capabilities, including Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, and Volkswagen, and in August 2023, General Motors announced bidirectional charging will be a standard option across its Ultium-based EVs by model year 2026, while Tesla has said all of its EV models will feature power-sharing by 2025.

Bidirectional Charging Complexities

Usually, power goes one way, from the outlet to the appliance. The same has largely been true when EVs are plugged in; the power goes from the charging station to the vehicle’s battery, however, bidirectional EV charging is far more complex than standard EV charging as it involves a two-way power flow.

As the name implies, bidirectional charging offers a power exchange capable of flowing in both directions: power goes into the car but when programmed, is also discharged from the vehicle to your house (V2H) or the grid (V2G)—unlocking new possibilities for revenue with net metering and increasing your independence from the grid.

V2G capabilities are already being widely tapped into Europe and Asia, and the technology is rapidly growing as more emphasis is placed on the potential of these vehicles as a resilient source of power. For example, a Volkswagen executive boasted that the company’s EV fleet, which will soon include cars with bidirectional capabilities, could hold (and provide) more power than the world’s hydroelectric plants by 2025.

Beyond providing increased energy stability, homeowners can also use the technology to save money. Where utilities offer time-of-use electric pricing for kWh rates, an EV with bidirectional capabilities can be used for “peak shaving.” Involving the use of cheaper “off peak” electricity to charge the EV and using this stored energy during “peak” times when electricity rates are highest, peak shaving can further help maximize the impact of your investment.

For businesses, a bidirectional EV fleet strategy can help you power your building and take advantage of energy credits or other incentives by reducing daytime energy usage from the grid.

Bidirectional Charging Requires Extra Hardware and Adds Installation Complexity

Similar to adding battery storage to a solar power system, a bidirectional EV charging system is more complex than a standard project, involving extra hardware and installation expertise.

Quality is vital to your project, and working with a qualified professional who uses the correct type and grade of materials in addition to utilizing the proper technique without cutting corners to save on costs remains the best way to ensure success, safety, and longevity when you install an EV charging station.

For example, the Tesla Cybertruck Foundation Series includes bidirectional charging capabilities, also referred to as Powershare by Tesla. Cybertruck drivers looking to access the Powershare feature must also install a Powershare Gateway (unless you already have a Powerwall battery backup system) and a Universal Wall Connector EV charger.

Reasons You Should Consider Bidirectional Charging in Your Next Vehicle Purchase
Aging U.S. Power Grid

Most of the U.S. electric grid was built in the 1960s and 1970s with little to no major updates since then. Today, over 70% of the U.S. electricity grid is more than 25 years old.

With an aging system vulnerable to increasingly intense storms, “extreme weather events like the Dixie Wildfire, Hurricane Ida, and the 2021 Texas Freeze have made it clear that America’s existing energy infrastructure will not endure the continuing impacts of extreme weather events spurred by climate change,” the U.S. Department of Energy said.

On July 8, 2024, around 2.3 million CenterPoint Energy customers in the Houston area lost electricity during the Hurricane Beryl storm. One week later 40 percent of the utility’s customers were still without power in 100-degree heat and high humidity.

Power Imbalance Problems

In addition to grid challenges from age and climate, there just isn’t enough electricity generation available in various parts of the country to meet the needs & demands of electricity users during certain times of the year—especially as seasons and wea