Volvo on Thursday introduced a brand new enterprise unit targeted on tapping into the potential of EV bidirectional charging.
Volvo Automobiles Vitality Options will supply “power storage and charging-related applied sciences and providers,” in keeping with an organization press launch. However that will not be a actuality within the U.S. till the launch of the Volvo EX90, the primary Volvo EV to be geared up for bidirectional charging.
For now, Volvo is launching a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot program with Göteborg Energi Nät AB, a neighborhood utility within the automaker’s headquarters metropolis of Gothenburg, Sweden. This system will contain actual prospects and can use low-cost AC wallboxes to assist speed up adoption of V2G tech, in keeping with Volvo.
Volvo Automobiles Vitality Options
Volvo goals to go all-electric by 2030 and to place “thousands and thousands” of EVs on the highway within the coming years. The automaker estimates that the overall battery capability of its fleet will attain round 50 gigawatt-hours by mid-decade, offering ample extra capability for V2G makes use of.
Whereas Volvo estimates its automobiles will finally use a number of terawatt-hours of electrical energy per yr, present estimates additionally present that the typical each day drive in Europe makes use of lower than 10 kwh of power, whereas 90% of each day drives use lower than 20 kwh. Along with supplementing the grid with V2G use circumstances, Volvo hopes extra power can be utilized for vehicle-to-home (V2H) performance, supplementing house electrical energy, or in vehicle-to-load (V2L) purposes for charging gadgets like tenting gear and even electrical bicycles.
2024 Volvo EX90
Volvo beforehand confirmed that it’s planning to include {hardware} units permitting each AC or DC bidirectional charging in its EX90, in order to accommodate whichever tech is obtainable by market. Unveiled in November 2022 and anticipated to begin manufacturing subsequent yr, the three-row SUV additionally goals for 300 miles of vary.
For now, US choices are restricted to house energy backup from Ford, within the F-150 Lightning pickup truck, and a Nissan-approved V2G charger for the Leaf. Wallbox will quickly launch a system for the Kia EV9 as nicely, incorporating V2H and V2G performance. It is prone to be the primary to supply each capabilities collectively.