Three years ago, the German Nut E.ON and car manufacturer BMW engaged private households to test a bidirectional charging solution. Now, at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Munich, they have revealed what they describe as the first commercial V2G solution in Germany.
With bidirectional charging, the BMW IX3 electric car becomes an active part of the electricity market. It can pull electricity out of the grid and, if necessary, enter the grid. During charging, the high -voltage battery of the BMW IX3 is available for the Power Grid via the BMW Wallbox Professional.
The operating system is implemented with E.ON via a specially developed V2G rate. This allows energy to be traced back into the grid, with the help of special software developed together by the companies.
BMW and E.on said that the offer is financially attractive. Customers receive an annual bonus of a maximum of € 720 ($ 845) to make their vehicle battery available for intelligent charging and discharging through the Wallbox. This amounts to a maximum of 14,000 km driving per year without extra costs.
The bonus account is credited for each hour of connection, so that customers can contribute to the energy transition and at the same time lower the costs for loading costs.
There is no minimal connection time for BMW EV owners. Customers also receive what the companies call ‘fair compensation’ for the energy that goes back in the grid. They retain complete control over their loading goal, which remains a priority. BMW and E.ON added that an intelligent protection function ensures that bidirectional charging does not affect the battery life.
The range is rolled out to other BMW model series. Long-term plans include integrating the product into a wider energy platform that connects charging infrastructure, photovoltaic, heat pumps and smart home systems.
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