Feature · 4 min read
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) & Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) Explained
Send energy from your EV back to your home or sell it to the grid.
What is V2G and V2H?
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) turn your EV from a one-way energy consumer into a two-way battery on wheels. The car can send power back to your house (V2H) or export it to the wider grid (V2G), usually for payment.
How does it work?
A bidirectional charger sits between the car and your home wiring. When energy is cheap or your solar panels are producing a surplus, the car charges. When grid prices spike, the evenings get dark, or there's a power cut, the same hardware pulls energy back out of the car and feeds it the other way.
What does it feel like?
On a sunny afternoon the car soaks up free solar. At 5pm, when the grid is expensive, your house quietly runs off the car instead. During a power cut, the lights stay on. The app shows energy flowing in both directions and how much you've earned.
Benefits
- ✓Cuts household energy bills significantly
- ✓Backup power during outages (V2H)
- ✓Earn money exporting at peak times (V2G)
- ✓Helps balance a renewable-heavy grid
- ✓Stores excess solar energy you'd otherwise waste
Limitations
Requires a compatible car, a bidirectional charger, and (for V2G) a participating energy supplier. Hardware is still expensive and not yet widespread. Frequent two-way cycling may slightly increase battery wear, though most manufacturers carve out V2G use from the warranty terms.
Common problems
- ✓Compatibility mismatch between car and charger
- ✓Limited V2G tariffs available in your area
- ✓Battery left too low for the next morning's journey
- ✓Permission/approval needed from the local grid operator