Bidirectional charging will become second nature – but only if we do the work now

Let’s start with the why. V2G isn’t coming because it’s a flashy new tech. It’s coming because we need it. Europe is facing massive electrification, and the green transition demands a more flexible and balanced power supply. Solar energy can’t be stored – but car batteries can. According to the UK’s National Travel Survey 2022, cars are parked around 95% of the time. So, what if they could also help stabilise the grid and store excess energy?

That’s exactly what V2G does. It will become just as natural part of the grid as charging is today. But it won’t happen by itself.

During the panel discussion, I highlighted three specific requirements to make V2G a no-brainer:

1. Installers need to know how to set it up. This is new technology, and it demands new skills. Without a safe, correct installation, we won’t get anywhere.
   
   
2. We need standards in place. V2G can’t be proprietary tech between one car and one charger. It needs to work across car brands, borders, and energy providers. That’s why we’re actively involved in European standardisation, including a partnership with Polestar, and we’re positive about contributing to initiatives like Task 53, which is testing V2G at full scale across Europe.
   
3. Energy companies must be ready to receive power. In the Netherlands, some players already are. In Norway, we have a robust power grid and plenty of EVs – but the energy sector isn’t moving as quickly. We need to pick up the pace – even if the immediate need feels less urgent locally.

V2G is no longer just a theoretical concept. The EU framework is on its way, expected to be finalised by 2029. But even now, major charge point operators (CPOs) are asking for V2G-ready solutions in tenders. They don’t want to replace hardware in three years – they want to be ready now. Meanwhile, our end customers are calling us to ask for V2G chargers tomorrow. There’s a clear gap between expectations and reality. The technology exists, but it’s not yet fully available.

Still, we can’t afford to wait. Together with Polestar, we’re building solutions based on current knowledge and standards. We test. We learn. We adapt to what’s coming. That’s how the future is shaped – by doing.

For V2G to work, you need more than an innovative EV charging manufacturer. It’s a shift in how we think about energy supply. When a car can power your house – or your neighbourhood – we’re flipping the logic of the entire energy system. Picture a world where your car is your home’s battery bank. That’s not science fiction. That’s what we’re building.

Communication between hardware – the car and charger – cloud platforms, and the grid must be seamless for this to function. That means the OCPP communication protocol must work, ISO and IEC standards must be followed, and security must be rock-solid.

And yes, there also needs to be a business model. Someone needs to understand how the energy flows – and who gets paid for what.

V2G will outgrow the charging we know today. It’s not an add-on – it’s the next chapter. At Zaptec, we intend to be in the driver’s seat, alongside partners like Polestar and leading European research communities. To influence. To learn. And to deliver solutions that work – across car brands and across borders.

But this requires action, not just from those of us building the technology but from the entire value chain: installers, energy companies, policymakers, and, not least, consumers, who are already curious and ready.

V2G is no longer a question of if. It’s a question of when.