HLN DriveEnergy prices are skyrocketing. In some places, solar panels also fail because the electricity grid cannot handle their production, so you miss out on revenue. So a home battery as the ideal solution to store this energy, did you think? Not necessary according to HLN Drive, because you can often replace that home battery with… your own car!
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In collaboration with HLN Drive
Latest update:
12:16
Source:
Mika Tuyaerts
After all, many electric cars have so-called vehicle-to-grid technology. This allows your EV – at least if your charging station is also suitable for this – not only absorbing energy, but also returning it to the electricity grid. The possibilities with this are enormous. Certainly because the batteries of electric cars (with a storage capacity of up to 120 kWh) are much larger than the average home battery, which scores 5 to 10 kWh.
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For example, during peak times, for example between 5 and 8 o’clock in the evening, when your food is simmering, the television is on and the water for the shower is heated, you can use energy from the electric car. At night, during off-peak hours, you recharge that energy at a more favorable rate. The difference between the two is pure profit for you. Or you simply charge the energy for free at the charging station at your employer the next day. After all, an average electric car has a battery of 40 to 50 kWh, while the average household consumption is about 10 kWh per day. In other words, enough electricity remains in the battery to get to work the next day.
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Do you work at home? Then you can really use your car as a home battery and store the energy from your solar panels in it. This way they can’t fail and afterwards you can still choose whether you put the generated electricity on the grid, use it yourself for your household or drive it with your car. The smartest charging stations and electricity systems even constantly calculate what is most appropriate: stock up on electricity or sell it on the grid. This way you can spend your energy as efficiently as possible and make the best financial choices.
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Technology on the rise
Vehicles with vehicle to grid technology are currently rather limited. Mitsubishi, which since this year no longer sells cars in our country, integrated it in its plug-in hybrid Outlander. And also with the electric cars there are a number of models, especially Asians, with this option. The Nissan LEAF for example, but also the technologically similar Kia EV6 on Hyundai Ioniq 5. Both cars also have an extra trick: in addition to vehicle to grid, they can also charge vehicle to load. In other words, you can charge your electric bicycle, camping gear or even other electric car via a special intermediate piece.
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The European brands are also working on the technology. Volkswagen would start working on it for the entire group’s EVs (including Audi, Skoda, Porsche and Cupra) next year, and Mercedes is already offering bi-directional charging in Japan with the EQS. But there are also test projects at Renault and BMW, among others. Volvo and Polestar have already announced several partnerships with companies in the field of vehicle to grid technology. To put it simply: the chance that the electric car will not only settle in your mobile life, but also in your household is very high.
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Electric car or rather petrol? Take the test here and discover which car suits you.
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Tested: With the Mercedes-Benz EQS at the Zoute Grand Prix
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From Tesla to Porsche: these are the most popular electric cars in Belgium
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This article was brought to you by HLN Drive.
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