Bidirectional charging

Technology drives innovation which in turn makes our lives not just easier but awesome. One such marvel of technology is electric vehicles. While countries globally are strongly considering this choice, the government in the UK is steering enthusiastically in this direction. A recent survey conducted by Indra, a UK tech giant in the EV segment, indicates that nearly 50% of drivers would happily shift from their petrol or diesel vehicles to EVs if EV charging could help power their homes. 

In other words, if EV chargers could serve the purpose of providing power to homes, that could be really wonderful, and the UK drivers would warmly welcome the EVs.

In this article, we delve into what are the concerns of drivers, their myths about EVs, the concept of bidirectional charging, the future ahead, and more.

So, let’s get started.

Why are drivers concerned about shifting to an electric vehicle?

While most drivers want to shift to electric vehicles from conventional petrol or diesel ones, there are some factors acting as deterrents. One of these is that most people are of the misconception that EVs are relatively costlier. The idea of adopting an eco-friendly mode of powering their vehicles is certainly a win. However, the cost factor seems to be the cause of concern.

Another major factor contributing to drivers’ dilemma on switching to electric vehicles is the lack of public EV charging points. It makes sense as most drivers would be traveling to and from different locations every day. That said, the charge of their vehicle dropping to zero when they are en route, with no EV chargers around, could seem daunting. This is where Impra Charge can help to install EV charging points on multiple locations (such as Cambridge, Peterborough, Birmingham etc).

Busting the Myth - Understanding the Benefits

In the UK, EV charging companies focus on leveraging various technologies to harvest the benefits of electric vehicles and create awareness among the masses. Mike Schooling, the founder of tech company Indra, emphasizes adopting bi-directional charging technology. According to Schooling, this technology would address the concern of drivers and take EV charging to the next level. Bi-directional charging or V2X charging technology offers dual benefits.

First, it allows the drivers to reap the advantages of lower-carbon energy and relatively cheaper energy tariffs. This would serve as a great relief to the drivers as it would reduce their fuel costs while contributing to lowering the carbon footprints. Second, the technology would discharge surplus energy which the drivers could use to power their homes.

Additionally, it makes it possible to trade the energy back to the grid when prices are at an all-time high.

The idea of utilizing the additional energy towards meeting home energy needs seems promising to most drivers. A study shows that people in various top-tier cities in the UK are gearing up for electric vehicle ownership.

Bi-directional technology - A new facet in EV charging

So, what’s this bidirectional charging? Well, as the term indicates, it refers to the flow of charge in electric vehicles in two directions. Unlike the conventional uni-directional charging wherein the power travels only from the power grid to the device or vehicle, in this case, it will flow both ways - from the electric grid to EV charging and the opposite as well. Great!

So, how does it help? When EV charging is over, the electricity from the grid is converted by the converter in the charger. This energy stored in the EV’s battery can be used to power your home or sent back to the power grid. While most EVs today don’t have bidirectional charging technology yet, they all have internal converters.

This implies they can handle the conversion in one direction while also controlling the amount of power sent to and received from the battery. The concept of bi-directional charging will open the gateways to a completely new dimension of electrification and charging techniques.

Foresight into the Future

Bi-directional charging technology could be a potential game-changer, revolutionizing how we communicate with our vehicles. The transformation that this emerging trend envisions is to release us from the shackles of the traditional power modes and equip us by making it possible to trade, share and use energy. V2X technology could significantly contribute to eco-friendly initiatives while allowing us to store and use the power to light our homes.

Unlike the traditional power infrastructure, EVs and the V2X technology would play a crucial role in driving the go-green objectives and help the government to achieve the desired outcomes. The technology holds the potential to pave the way for a completely new wave of electrification. As the UK government banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030, the importance of EVs will considerably increase in the coming years.

By using EVs for transport and as batteries to power homes, the ownership of electric vehicles will become easier, more convenient, and an amazing experience. In addition, the various advantages such as storing the energy in the EVs’ batteries, supplying power for home usage, and, most importantly, trading the power back to the grid - all can considerably democratize the use of energy.

Final thoughts

EVs are no longer a buzzword, they will soon become a norm. While people are more inclined to home EV charging options, bi-directional technology already presents the solution. As more companies embrace and embed this concept into the EV chargers, the vision of widespread adoption of EVs as the primary mode of transport will soon be realized.