Bidirectional EV Charger
Bidirectional EV charger - What is it and why a good choice?
A bi-directional charging station is a charging station that could play a very important role, especially in the future. Bidirectional charging posts can in fact charge in two directions. This means that the bi-directional charging station can charge the car as normal, but also that it can supply power back from the car to power various devices in the house. This means that your electric car can soon be used as an additional source of power for your household.
Two-way charging offers many financial benefits for a household. Especially if you use solar panels or have a dynamic energy contract. Below, we will further explain what these benefits are.
- Use your car as a source of power
- Use your car as a battery for your generated solar energy
- Lower energy bills
As described above, a bi-directional charging station can charge two ways. You can charge your hybrid or electric car just like a normal charging station can, but you can also use your hybrid or electric car to power your household.
Because two-way charging is still a new technique of charging, there are still few charging stations and cars that support two-way charging. Only the latest models of EVs have this capability.
If you have a car that can charge bi-directionally, especially if you have a dynamic energy contract, it can be very advantageous for you to purchase a bi-directional charging station. This is because a dynamic energy contract allows you to fully charge your car when the power is cheapest for you. So you can then use this power back in your household, which means you can actually live at a low power rate all the time.
Even with solar panels, a bi-directional charging station is a very attractive option. Your solar energy can be stored in your electric car, which means that when there is a surplus of solar energy, you can use this energy to temporarily store in your car. It can then still supply your household with solar energy in the evening, for example, when the sun is no longer shining. This could eventually save you a lot of money on your energy bill, especially now that the balancing subsidy scheme is being phased out.
Different ways of bidirectional charging
The term ‘bidirectional loading’ covers different ways of loading. These ways will be highlighted for you below.
V2H
Bidirectional charging with a V2H charging station is the most well-known way of bidirectional charging. V2H is the abbreviation for Vehicle to home and thus literally means that you can deliver power from your car to your home. So here, the car is actually an extra battery/source of power. Are you looking for a V2H charging station? Then get in touch with us.
V2G
V2G stands for ‘Vehicle to grid’ and means that power from your car can be delivered back to your energy provider. A V2G charging station can therefore be extremely interesting for households using the net-metering scheme. Are you looking for a V2G charging station? Then get in touch with us.
V2L
Bidirectional charging also offers charging options that do not require a charging station.
This is also called V2L charging, or Vehicle to load. This uses your electric car as a charging point for electrical devices. So if you have a car that can do this, you can literally have your laptop charged by your car. You can do this, for example, with the Loady V2L adapter.
Popular bi-directional EV chargers models
Because bi-directional charging is still such a new technology, we have a limited range for this category. In fact, we currently have one charge post in our range that will be able to charge bidirectionally in the future, namely the Zaptec Pro. The Zaptec Pro in fact has the hardware to charge bi-directionally in the future. An update on this will follow from Zaptec, which is expected in mid-2024. Because the Zaptec Pro charging station can be used bidirectionally in the near future, it is one of the most future-proof chargers in our range. Further details on the product details of the Zaptec Pro will be discussed below.
The Zaptec Pro is a high-quality product from Norway. It can be operated anytime, anywhere and features a charging capacity of 22 kW. (3 x 32A). Dynamic Load Balancing is not integrated as standard in this charging station, but can be added via the Tibber Pulse. This connects via WiFi to the smart meter in your meter box. A wired connection is therefore not possible. More information on this Zaptec Pro can be found here.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a subsidy for a bidirectional charging station?
No, unfortunately there is no subsidy available for bidirectional charging stations in the Netherlands yet. The same applies to normal charging stations, for which no subsidy is (yet) available. Nowadays, the government only offers subsidies for electric vehicles and therefore not for a (bidirectional) charging station.
How much does a bidirectional charging station cost?
Because bidirectional charging is a fairly new concept, it is difficult to give a price estimate. The price of a bidirectional charging station is currently around €1,259.) This price does not include any installation costs.
Which charging station can charge bidirectionally?
There are currently few charging stations that can be used bidirectionally, because bidirectional charging is a fairly new concept. We are currently selling the Zaptec Pro, which will soon be able to be used bidirectionally. This Zaptec Pro is currently the only charging station in our range that has hardware for bidirectional charging.
That is why you should buy a bidirectional charging station
With a bidirectional charging station you can save a lot of money on your energy bill in the future. Especially if the netting arrangement disappears. With a bidirectional charging station you turn your electric car into a home battery that can store the remaining solar energy. This not only saves you money, but you are also extremely sustainable.
At Wallbox Discounter, sustainability is one of our core values. In our range we only offer products that ensure a sustainable and greener world.
We always offer products of the highest quality, combined with the best service.