The first bi-directional Volvo

The new full-electric Volvo EX90 will be the first Volvo that will be able to charge bi-directionally. This technology will be able to be used to counter any power shortages that might occur as a result of the mass switch to electric mobility. In addition, the car can also be used as a sort of home battery.

"With the Volvo EX90, you are your own energy supplier," , Olivier Loedel, head of Electrification Ecosystem, says. "You can use the battery for different applications, for example to recharge your electric bike when you go out or to plug in a kitchen appliance during a weekend camping trip. It can even power your home during expensive peak hours."

Bi-directional charging

As Olivier Loedel explained, two-way or bi-directional charging essentially means that power can flow in both directions, to and from the car. This allows the power stored in the car's battery to be returned. This can have many different applications and could also potentially solve a well-known hurdle, namely the enormous electricity consumption associated with the switch to eMobility.

Vehicle-to-Grid, Home and Load

V2G stands for Vehicle-to-GridAs the name suggests, these are cars that can store energy and give it back to the grid. In concrete terms, this means that such a type of car can thus store energy. This allows the electrical grid to better balance and distribute itself when it experiences certain fluctuations, due to a period when less wind energy is generated or in winter when less solar energy is generated for example. 
 

But V2G isn't the only application that bi-directional charging offers. For instance, there's also something called V2H, which stands for Vehicle-to-Home . With V2H, you can power your home with the stored energy for the EV so that the car acts as a home battery. This way, you'll always have a sort of green "emergency generator", so to speak, that can supply you with power, for instance in case of a sudden power outage.

Finally, the EV battery can also be used as a V2L solution. V2L stands for Vehicle-to-Load and allows you to power smaller devices. For instance, charging your electric bike or powering an electric stove while camping. So many possible applications!