At Power2Drive Europe 2025, the special exhibit Bidirectional Charging proved to be an absolute crowd-puller. And no wonder, as this technology has long been regarded as one of the greatest levers to reliably integrate renewable energy into our power grid while making electromobility even more attractive. But, even though the technology is ready and raring to go, the industry is still waiting for a clear political framework.
High visitor traffic and keen interest in the special exhibit clearly showed that demand is very much there. It was not just the fleet operators and industry professionals who were asking targeted questions; many private individuals also wanted to know how they can use their electric vehicles bidirectionally at home. Models, pricing and availability were the dominant topics, while, in some cases, specific purchase advice was handed out on stage.
Swiss expert Marco Piffaretti from the International Energy Agency (Task 53) confirmed the vast potential of this technology: “Bidirectional charging is the solution to saving up to 10 billion euros on grid expansion in Europe alone, by using intelligence and storage systems instead of expensive copper.”
It became abundantly clear that this topic is equally relevant far beyond Germany’s borders. Visitors from Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic specifically asked about national regulations. Double taxation issues, the slow smart meter rollout and inconsistent regulatory conditions within Europe were subject to particularly intense debate.
Dr. Herbert Diess, former CEO at VW, also emphasized that: “From a technical perspective we have already come a long way, and countries such as France and the UK have shown us that regulatory obstacles can be overcome. Germany could lead the way, but only if we make up for lost time when it comes to regulations.”
Political representatives showed a great deal of interest in the special exhibit and also appeared concerned that Germany is lagging behind when it comes to this promising technology.
“There are actually only two major regulatory hurdles,” explained Diess: “The double burden through grid charges and the slow smart meter rollout. Both these issues must now be resolved by the government so that we can finally make use of the available technology.”
One of the special exhibit’s technical highlights was the debate on AC and DC charging. Stefan Hell from Compleo/Kostal explained: “From a technical standpoint, both options work. AC EV chargers will become even more affordable and suitable for the mass market, with prices well under 1,500 euros. The DC solution is more universal, but currently still costs more.”
Experts agree that the cost of bidirectional EV chargers will soon drop significantly. Initial solutions that were priced at over 10,000 euros just a few years ago now cost less than 2,500 euros. As with photovoltaics and battery storage systems, experts predict that prices will halve again in the next few years.
In France, Renault already offers the new electric Renault 5 with bidirectional charging as standard, and even compensates their customers when they connect their vehicle to the grid. “This means customers are driving virtually free of charge – up to 10,000 km per year, funded purely by intelligent charging and discharging,” said Herbert Diess. Similar pilot projects are now in the pipeline in Germany, such as the BDL Next project from BMW and Eon.
The special exhibit Bidirectional Charging made it impressively clear that electromobility has the potential to not only make our streets emission-free, but also make the entire energy system intelligent and flexible. Technologically speaking we are already there, but Germany must now urgently play catch up when it comes to regulations.
In any case, visitors to Power2Drive Europe 2025 clearly showed that the demand is huge, and end users and companies alike are ready and prepared. A clear political framework is the final missing piece of the puzzle needed to tap into the full potential of bidirectional charging.
Learn more in our whitepaper "Bidirectional Charging – The Future of Smart Energy Supply"