A typical electric vehicle (EV) sits parked 90% of the time with a battery capable of storing 40kWh - enough to power an average modern home for two days. EVs have the potential to provide game-changing flexibility for the grid and, by optimizing charging to occur at times of low demand, they could enable energy systems to:

• utilize more renewable generation

• save billions in infrastructure reinforcement and reduce energy costs for customers, and

• increase operational resilience. 

However, one-way smart charging is just the beginning. Through bidirectional charging, EVs can push excess energy back into homes and the grid - unlocking true transformation for customers, utilities and system operators. This technology is already here and is known as vehicle-to-everything (V2X).

This paper summarizes the results and insights from the world’s first and largest domestic vehicle-to-grid program, assesses the challenges in scaling V2X internationally and recommends how they can be overcome.