Bidirectional charging: the EV as an energy store

Bidirectional charging explained: when your EV becomes an energy store

Your electric car is parked most of the time, while its battery remains ready for use. This technology reverses the usual charging process: instead of only taking in electricity, your vehicle can release energy again when needed. A mere consumer thus becomes a mobile energy store that powers your home or supports the public grid. Since 2026, bidirectional charging has, for the first time, had a clear legal and technical framework in Germany. That makes it a truly exciting prospect for EV drivers.

But how exactly does the system behind it work, and how can you benefit?

What bidirectional charging means

Normally, electricity flows in only one direction during charging: from the socket or your solar panels into your electric car's battery. Bidirectional charging opens up the other direction. Your car not only takes in electricity but also releases it again when needed. To make this work safely, the technology in the vehicle and a suitable charging station control the flow of electricity in both directions.

Your electric car becomes a battery on wheels. And that battery is surprisingly large. A typical EV battery holds 60 to 100 kWh. In theory, that could power an ordinary household for two to three days. A typical home battery mounted on the wall, by contrast, often holds only around 13 kWh. Your car therefore offers several times the capacity, and you have already paid for it with the vehicle. Bidirectional charging makes precisely this reserve usable.

V2G, V2H and V2L: three destinations for your energy

Bidirectional charging is an umbrella term. The direction in which electricity flows distinguishes its three main forms. The collective term is V2X, or Vehicle-to-Everything.

• Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G): With V2G, your electric car feeds electricity back into the public grid. Grid operators use it to balance peak loads, and you generally receive compensation through your electricity provider.
• Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): Here, the vehicle supplies only your own home, without a grid operator or billing. This is especially attractive in combination with a photovoltaic system, because you can use solar power generated during the day in the evening.
• Vehicle-to-Load (V2L): The car provides a standard power outlet and supplies external devices, such as tools on a construction site or camping equipment. V2L works without a special wallbox and is already standard in many new models.

Vehicle-to-Grid: your EV's role in the energy transition

The greatest promise for the future lies in vehicle-to-grid technology. When many vehicles absorb surplus wind and solar energy and feed it back when needed, they form an enormous distributed battery. Experts call this a swarm battery. Industry estimates put the storage potential of Germany's electric fleet at several gigawatt-hours. Spread across millions of cars, that provides flexibility comparable to a large power plant.

For V2G to work at all, two major hurdles had to be removed in Germany. On November 13, 2025, the Bundestag passed an amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) that ended the double charging of grid fees at the start of 2026. Electricity fed back into the grid is now treated like stored electricity. In addition, the VDE-AR-N 4105:2026-03 standard has set binding safety requirements since March 2026. From April 2026, the Federal Network Agency's MiSpeL rules also simplify billing. It is important to know, however, that V2G is still in its infancy for private customers. The first commercial offerings are launching in 2026, while experts expect a broader market rollout closer to 2028.

What you need for bidirectional charging today

Not every vehicle supports this technology. For bidirectional charging, you essentially need three things: an EV approved by its manufacturer, a certified bidirectional wallbox and registration with the grid operator. Korean manufacturers such as Hyundai and Kia are currently considered the furthest along, followed by certain models from the Volkswagen Group and other brands. As things stand, Tesla does not yet support bidirectional charging in Europe.

The market is currently changing faster than almost any other part of the energy sector. That makes a clear-eyed assessment worthwhile: before buying, check the latest information on which car works with which wallbox. Installation must be carried out by a licensed electrical contractor. Since January 2026, a simplified registration procedure has applied to V2H up to 11 kW; feeding electricity into the grid via V2G requires additional steps.

What bidirectional charging can do for you

The biggest opportunity today lies in using your own electricity. Combining solar panels, household power and a compatible EV noticeably increases your independence. A study by the Fraunhofer Institute estimates potential savings of up to €700 a year for households that optimally combine a solar installation, storage and bidirectional charging. With moderate use, concerns about the battery are manageable: current studies put additional wear in the low single-digit percentage range per year.

For you, this means V2H already offers clear added value today, while V2G will gradually realize its full potential. Both options turn your electric car from a mere means of transport into an active part of your energy supply.

From car to grid: JOLT is already thinking in terms of storage

Bidirectional charging is based on a simple principle: batteries make electricity flexible. JOLT already puts precisely this principle into practice in public spaces. Our fast-charging stations have integrated battery storage. It buffers energy, enables ultra-fast charging at up to 360 kW without costly grid expansion, and also acts as an intelligent energy store that balances supply and demand from renewable sources in real time, stabilising the grid.

While your electric car can serve as an energy store at home, JOLT brings the same storage principle to the places where you charge on the road. We explain exactly how battery-supported charging works in our article Charging an electric car without a wallbox. Read our guide to the EV charging curve to find out why charging power varies over time. For an overview of our technology, see our charging solutions.

Charge ultra-fast with JOLT now

Bidirectional charging shows how intelligently connected batteries will shape tomorrow's mobility. JOLT is bringing this idea into the city today: ultra-fast, reliable and available around the clock. Find a charging station near you and experience urban fast charging without the wait.

Find a charging station now!