Vehicle-to-Grid: Electric cars become part of the energy system

The BMW Group and E.ON have launched the first commercial vehicle-to-grid (V2G) offering in Germany. With the introduction of bidirectional charging, electric vehicles are positioned for the first time not as mere electricity consumers, but as active players in the energy market. The BMW iX3 thus becomes a pilot model for a technology that goes far beyond traditional electromobility: The vehicle can absorb energy, feed it back into the grid when needed, and thus contribute to stabilizing the electricity system.

From car to energy storage

V2G is considered a key technology for the flexible and sustainable energy supply of the future. In times when the share of renewable energies is growing rapidly, flexibility and intelligent storage solutions are crucial. Solar and wind power naturally produce fluctuating electricity supplies: On windy or sunny days, there is often an oversupply, and the grid then reaches its capacity limits. Conversely, supply gaps can occur during periods of calm or low solar radiation.

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This is where the V2G concept comes in: The high-voltage batteries of electric cars serve as distributed storage capacities that can absorb surplus energy in the short term and release it again when needed. Each connected vehicle thus becomes part of a large-scale virtual storage system that supports grid operators and energy suppliers in balancing generation and consumption.

Economic incentives for customers

The new offering from BMW and E.ON combines ecological benefits with economic advantages. Customers who make their vehicles available for intelligent charging and discharging receive an annual bonus of up to €720. This corresponds to up to 14,000 kilometers of driving, which can be completed practically free of charge.

Read more about V2G in this special.

Participation is achieved via a specially developed wallbox and a new electricity tariff being launched by E.ON. The flexibility is particularly customer-friendly: There is no prescribed minimum time the car must remain connected. Every minute the BMW iX3 is connected to the grid counts and contributes to the bonus. Furthermore, the energy fed back into the grid is transparently compensated.

A key argument for V2G is technical safety. According to BMW and E.ON, repeated charging and discharging does not impair battery life – intelligent control mechanisms ensure that cycles remain within the optimal range for battery conservation. In terms of mobility, this means that customers can decide for themselves at any time when it's time to charge and can ensure that their vehicle is ready to drive at the desired time.

This addresses one of the most common concerns about bidirectional charging: that it could result in a loss of range or battery performance. Providers emphasize that neither convenience nor reliability will suffer—on the contrary: Those who regularly connect their vehicles actively contribute to relieving grid congestion and simultaneously benefit financially.

Sector coupling as a strategic perspective

The market launch of the V2G offering in the BMW iX3 is just the beginning. Additional model series are to follow; in the long term, the partners plan to embed the solution in a comprehensive energy ecosystem. This will encompass not only vehicles and charging infrastructure, but also intelligently connect photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, and smart home technologies.

Learn more about bidirectional charging here.

This signals a shift: Electric cars are no longer seen merely as a means of transport, but as an essential component of a cross-sectoral energy architecture. This means two things for the energy transition: First, greater flexibility in the grid, and second, a reduction in the overall costs of the energy system. Better integration of renewable energies can reduce expensive grid stabilization measures and avoid additional fossil fuel reserve capacity.

A milestone with a signal effect

With the introduction of vehicle-to-grid technology into the everyday lives of private users, BMW and E.ON are breaking new ground in Germany. While the technology has so far been tested primarily in pilot projects and scientific studies, it is now entering the consumer market. This step is considered a breakthrough because it makes the long-discussed idea of ​​decentralized electricity storage a practical experience – and in a place where the energy transition is already highly visible: in electromobility.

This opens up considerable potential for the energy industry. Millions of vehicle batteries could act like a swarm of flexibly controllable energy storage systems in the future. This could be a crucial building block, especially in light of the 2030 target of increasing the share of renewable energy in electricity consumption to 80 percent.