Charging is one of the key aspects of owning an electric vehicle (EV)—in fact, it’s central as to what makes EVs more convenient and affordable to use compared to their petrol-fueled counterparts. Charging stations have also become much more prolific over the years with around 64,700 public charging points to be found across the UK according to Zapmap’s database. Nowadays, you can even get one installed right at your home or business with just a quick search of “EV charger installer near me” online.
Alongside this growth, EV charging technology has also evolved over the years by introducing new battery charging features to help EV owners better manage their vehicle’s energy supply. One such innovation is bi-directional charging, which allows your EV to not only store energy but also transfer it to another device or vehicle. Here are some benefits to having bi-directional charging for your EV.
1. Vehicle-to-Grid Integration
Typically, EVs are only capable of receiving energy from charging stations. What bi-directional charging does is enable electricity to flow both ways, thus allowing your EV to discharge the energy it has and even return it back to the national grid—hence the term vehicle-to-grid (V2G). Utilising V2G can promote better stability of the electricity grid servicing your area, especially during peak hours.
Another benefit on top of this is that you can earn money from selling back energy to your grid. Not only can you generate additional revenue during your EV’s downtime, you can also help keep your local grid in meeting the increasing energy demands.
2. Energy Cost Savings
Some charging companies offer lower rates if you charge your vehicle during off-peak hours, which typically happens at night. Now imagine a scenario where you take advantage of those cheaper rates to stock up energy on your EV then later use some of that to power up your home or business establishment during the day. This could net you additional energy cost savings, which is certainly a welcome relief from the rising electricity prices.
This could also be a crucial part in pushing your household to become energy self-sufficient in the long run. Additionally, you can utilise renewable power sources such as solar panels during daytime and then have your EV continue supplying energy to your home come evening. By doing so, you don’t have to heavily rely on the grid as much while also accumulating more savings over time.
3. Vehicle-to-Vehicle Charging
Apart from V2G, bi-directional charging also enables vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), which allows your EV to share its energy charge to other EVs. This could provide additional peace of mind for those who experience range anxiety—the worry that your EV won’t have enough charge to make it to your destination. On top of that, charging stations now have the option to charge up with the help of other EVs as well.
4. Turning Your EV Into a Power Backup
Power outages can happen anytime due to natural disasters, grid malfunctions, or simply because there’s not enough energy supply to distribute, among others. There can also be instances when your home is affected by ongoing utility repairs that can take time. During these situations, you can rest assured that your home will still have electricity thanks to the vehicle-to-home (V2H) system.
Through V2H, you can power your household through your EV’s energy, thus turning it into a convenient energy backup. Moreover, you’re able to reduce the energy consumption of your home which then reduces pressure on your neighbourhood’s electricity grid as a whole.
5. Having a Portable Power Source
Heading somewhere far where there might not be any energy socket nearby? You don’t have to worry about powering up your gadgets or tools because your EV can also function as a portable power source with bi-directional charging. It’s a viable solution for when you’re out camping or expect to be on the road for a lengthy period of time. Now, you won’t have to worry as much about the lack of electricity wherever you’re heading since you’ve essentially got your car as a power bank.
6. Future-Proofing Both Your Transportation and Energy Means
More EV models that have the capacity for bi-directional are now being released in the market, allowing EV owners to try out the multiple benefits that this charging technology has to offer. Given how energy-efficient and convenient bi-directional charging can be, there may come a time when most EV models will be sporting such a feature. As the technology undergoes more study and experimentation, more applications may even come up in the future. In that case, investing in bi-directional charging is a great way to future-proof both your EV as well as your home or business’s power system.
By improving upon existing technology, bi-directional charging now provides EV owners with more freedom on how to store and manage the energy of their vehicles. With added incentives such as cost-efficiency, the promise of an energy backup in times of need, and even the opportunity to earn extra income by selling back energy, EV owners only stand to benefit from this innovative charging technology.