EVs as active grid elements
Who is leading the shift to bidirectional charging?
EVs are no longer viewed purely as a means of transport; they are emerging as meaningful energy assets.
BMW
As EVs evolve into flexible home and grid storage units, more manufacturers are adopting bidirectional charging. Here is how leading OEMs approach the technology — and what opportunities it opens for customers and energy systems.
Germany is entering a pivotal phase in its transition toward
electric mobility. The removal of double taxation on electricity fed back into
the grid has cleared a long-standing regulatory barrier that held back
vehicle-to-grid applications. With electric cars now
able to store and release energy into homes or the public network, they
effectively become mobile buffers that support grid stability and help
integrate a higher share of renewables. Despite years of discussion, genuine
momentum is only now forming — forecasts suggest that by the end of the decade,
half of all new EVs in Germany could support bidirectional charging.
German and European front-runners
BMW, together with energy provider
E.ON, offers one of the first consumer-ready packages in Europe. Using the iX3
and a compatible DC wallbox, households can feed electricity back into their
home grid. A dedicated tariff rewards this flexibility, with annual
bonuses of up to €720 currently achievable. The system initially focuses on
vehicle-to-home use, with export into the public grid planned as a next step.
Mercedes-Benz is preparing to enter the segment from 2026
with a fully integrated, premium ecosystem. Its plan combines the vehicle, a
bidirectional wallbox, a green electricity tariff and energy-management tools.
The aim is to deliver a seamless user experience that covers installation,
optimisation and remuneration — positioning Mercedes firmly in the
convenience-driven upper segment.
The Swedish EV brand Polestar is also stepping forward early
in the European rollout. The brand has launched its first vehicle-to-home
service for the Polestar 3 in California, developed in partnership with energy
specialist dcbel. In Europe, a dedicated home charger is in preparation and
will later support export functionality. Polestar’s approach focuses first on
creating household value — resilience, intelligent energy control, tariff
optimisation — before expanding into broader grid services.
Asian OEMs expand their bidirectional charging strategies
Nissan’s strategy is centred on cost efficiency. Its
AC-based onboard system — expected to arrive in Europe from 2026 — enables grid
export without relying on external inverters, which significantly reduces
hardware costs. After a year-long trial in the UK, the system has been
certified for grid connection. Nissan sees this as the foundation for
large-scale adoption, including use cases where fleet
vehicles serve as distributed storage assets.
Hyundai aims even higher. The Koreans view bidirectional charging as a structural component of
tomorrow’s energy networks. The company invests in both vehicle-to-home
and vehicle-to-grid technologies and works closely with utilities to ensure EVs
integrate seamlessly into smart grid architectures. Hyundai’s ambition is to
position cars not just as energy buffers but as active elements within an
intelligent energy ecosystem.
Toyota is expanding its European ecosystem by collaborating
with energy providers to embed bidirectional charging into complete service
models. The emphasis goes beyond hardware: Toyota is developing linked services
that connect vehicles, home energy systems and charging infrastructure into a
cohesive, value-adding framework.
EVs are becoming energy assets
The arrival of the first commercial offerings marks a
structural shift. EVs are no longer viewed purely
as a means of transport; they are emerging as meaningful energy assets.
For consumers, the technology opens opportunities to reduce electricity costs
and improve home energy resilience. For grid operators, millions of distributed
storage units could help absorb peak loads and stabilise a system that is
increasingly shaped by fluctuating renewable sources.
The next few years will determine how quickly these
capabilities scale. Interoperable, plug-and-play solutions for large-scale
vehicle-to-grid applications are expected from around 2028, assuming technical
standards mature and installation complexity decreases. Transparent
remuneration will be critical to build confidence beyond early pilot projects.
If these conditions align, bidirectional charging could
evolve from a niche capability into a mainstream component of the energy
transition — benefiting both the automotive sector and the power market.
