Volvo EX90, the first electric car with bi-directional charging. Many of us try to respect the environment by recycling materials, cooking to reduce food waste or driving an electric car. However, when it comes to making energy use more sustainable, it can be difficult to understand how to increase the share of renewable sources in the electricity you use.
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While society is increasingly oriented towards electrification – and cars play a fundamental role in the ecological transition – on the other hand, the increase in electricity needs can lead to a significant overload of the network.
Volvo believes that with bi-directional charging, an electric car can potentially help reduce this load when connected to the grid, creating a virtual power plant along with many other electric cars. It can also help meet the energy needs of the home and, when disconnected, become a battery on wheels that provides energy to your life on the go: for cooking, for power tools or for the stereo system.
The first Volvo with bi-directional charging
The all-electric Volvo EX90 to be unveiled on November 9 will be the first Volvo to be ready for bi-directional charging.
Initially available in selected markets, bi-directional charging according to the automaker has the potential to make energy use more economical, efficient and sustainable.
Thanks to the smart charging capabilities coming to a smartphone app, the Volvo EX90 will allow the car to be charged when the demand for energy from the grid and prices are low, which usually implies a greater presence of renewables in the energy mix. , and to conserve the accumulated energy for later use.
Once available, the all-new Volvo EX90’s two-way charging could provide power for the home and other electrical devices.
“Its battery can be used in many ways, for example to recharge the electric bicycle when traveling or to connect an outdoor cooking device for weekend camping,” explains Olivier Loedel, head of the Electrification Ecosystem division. . “It could even light up the house during the expensive peak hours of the day.”
In addition to being able to recharge appliances and other devices, the car, according to the manufacturer, will be able to come to the rescue of other compatible Volvos by giving up part of its charge.
Where possible, the entire charging process will be automated and managed entirely by the intelligent charging functionality of the Volvo Cars app. The basic algorithm also ensures that the battery is charged and discharged within certain limits, reducing the risk of avoidable battery degradation.
Beyond the network
Depending on the specific rules of each energy market, bidirectional charging could also allow the grid to be supported in different ways. This could include drawing more energy at times when there is an excess of renewable energy, or selling energy during peak hours of use when demand is highest. If most cars are equipped with this functionality in the future, it will be possible to balance the grid more frequently. In this way, the overall sustainability of the grid could be improved, reducing the potential waste of energy from renewable sources when production exceeds demand.
Imagine such a situation: you come home from work with ample energy remaining in the battery, which was previously charged with cheaper and cleaner electricity. During the evening, you can connect the car to the power outlet and re-insert the energy into the grid when electricity prices are higher. Since energy generally costs less when the contribution of climate-neutral sources to the electricity supply is higher, this energy transaction can save on bills and at the same time return cleaner energy to the grid.
The manufacturer plans to provide the components necessary to start using the two-way charging functions, including an advanced wall box and a home energy management system. Other accessories will also be available, such as adapters for appliances and cables for charging other cars.