EV chargers that power cars and the grid

Electric vehicles are often sold as a greener way to drive. Increasingly, they may also help power the grid. ChargePoint, a prominent supplier of charging stations, has launched a new line of bidirectional chargers. Unlike standard models, which draw power in one direction, these can both charge vehicles and return electricity to the grid. The move hints at a future in which cars serve not just as transport, but as energy infrastructure.

The centrepiece is a faster Level 2 charger, capable of topping up a car nearly twice as quickly as current models. But the real innovation lies in its ability to export electricity, turning a parked car into a backup generator or a buffer for local grids during peak demand. Such systems, long discussed in theory, are starting to be realised in practice.

To make this viable, ChargePoint has partnered with a leading energy systems firm to simplify installation and integrate software for power management. The aim is to ease deployment for fleet operators and property owners, many of whom face complex permitting and wiring rules.

Automakers, for their part, are racing to make vehicles compatible with the new infrastructure. Not all models can yet support bidirectional flow, but that may change as demand grows. Analysts suggest the technology could eventually allow owners to offset electricity bills or even earn income by selling power at peak times.

Obstacles remain. Regulatory rules differ widely by state, and energy markets are not yet set up to account for millions of mobile batteries. Still, the appeal is growing as energy costs rise and resilience becomes a buzzword in climate policy circles.

As Mr Kazemi, ChargePoint’s chief hardware officer, puts it, “This is revolutionary, not evolutionary.” He may be right. Electric cars are no longer just consuming energy. Increasingly, they are set to give some back.