EV Magazine March 2023 | Page 66

Bi-directional charging , also known as vehicleto-grid ( V2G ) charging , refers to the ability of an EV to charge its battery from the grid , but also to revert power back to the grid from its own battery . This turns an EV into a source of distributed energy storage .

One of the main benefits of bi-directional EV charging is that it enables valuable grid services , such as frequency regulation and peak shaving , helping reduce the cost of operating the grid .

It can also help to reduce the need for expensive and polluting power plants , instead switching to more renewable sources of energy . Selling back the energy stored in the car to the grid network during peak hours also provides EV drivers with the ability to make money on their energy .