“Integrating vehicle batteries into home energy systems presents substantial business opportunities“

ADT: What is the business potential of integrating vehicle batteries into home energy systems and the power grid?

Integrating vehicle batteries into home energy systems and the power grid presents substantial business opportunities. Electric vehicles (EVs) function as mobile energy storage units, and by leveraging their potential through vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, we can help reduce peak energy demand, stabilize the grid, and boost renewable energy usage. This creates new revenue streams for OEMs, energy service providers, and car/homeowners alike, including opportunities in energy arbitrage, grid services, and optimizing self-consumption.

How does bidirectional charging contribute to energy sustainability?

Bidirectional charging enables EVs to not only recharge their batteries but also supply power back to consumer loads (V2L), homes (V2H), or the grid (V2G). This flexibility is crucial for balancing supply and demand in a renewable-driven energy system. For car owners, it adds value by offering low operational costs, while aggregators managing hundreds of vehicles can unlock significant business potential. This technology facilitates better integration of solar and wind energy, reduces reliance on backup power plants to stabilize the grid, and boosts energy resilience. In essence, it transforms EVs into active participants in the energy ecosystem, accelerating the shift toward a more sustainable and decentralized energy future.

What role does FEV play in advancing this technology?

FEV plays a pivotal role in consulting industry partners, including OEMs and suppliers, while driving the development of bidirectional charging technologies. We offer comprehensive engineering solutions, ranging from power electronics and battery management systems to communication protocols and grid integration strategies. Our interdisciplinary teams collaborate closely with OEMs, energy providers, and regulatory bodies to ensure that technical innovations meet market and infrastructure needs. We focus on supporting customer market strategies and addressing key technological challenges, such as software, communication, and the comparison of AC (in-vehicle chargers) versus DC (external chargers) bidirectional charging. In addition, FEV, with its deep understanding of battery technology and many years of experience in battery development for many OEMs as well as testing experience in the world's largest independent battery test center FEV eDLP, can competently answer the question of the additional influence of battery aging through bidirectional charging. Through pilot projects and system-level validation, FEV is helping turn bidirectional charging from concept into reality. At the recent Vienna Motor Symposium, we showcased a demonstrator for bidirectional charging using DC wallboxes.

About: Dr. Norbert Alt, FEV

Since Nov.1st 2020 FEV Group GmbH: COO & Executive Vice President, responsible for technology, global projects & business development for Europe, Americas (US and South America) and Asia (China, India, Japan, Middle East)

Since 2017 Initiator & Chairman of FEV´s international “Zero CO₂ Mobility & Energy Conference”

2016 – 2020 FEV Europe GmbH: EVP & Chairman of the Executive Board, responsible for Europe and South America

1982 - 1989 Studies of Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen

What’s ahead at the Automobil-Elektronik Kongress 2025?

On 24 June, it's finally that time again: Decision-makers in the fields of electricity, electronics, and software in cars will meet in Ludwigsburg for the Automobil-Elektronik Kongress, the annual networking event of the industry.

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